Reports include symptoms typical to norovirus including stomach pains, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. One person has needed hospitalization, according to the Larchmont Mamaroneck Patch.

The county Health Department issued a press release stating that it suspects the illness is a norovirus, a highly contagious “stomach bug whose symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. We are reaching out to interview all those who may be affected to help determine the source of the illness and to identify any new cases. We don’t know how many are affected yet.” To avoid contracting norovirus, the Health Department suggests people wash their hands thoroughly after every lavatory visit, between contact with other people, and before and after preparing food, said the Larchmont Mamaroneck Patch.

The investigation is ongoing; therefore, it is not clear if all of those people who have fallen ill were attending the fundraiser dinner function at the Pelham Picture House last Saturday or if some of those who have become sickened were attending other events at the Hilton, said LoHud.com. The number of illness reports is expected to continue to increase while the county Department of Health investigation continues.

A number of celebrities attended the Pelham Picture House fundraiser, including actress, Isabella Rossellini and film director, Benh Zeitlin. Jeffrey Klein (Democrat-Bronx), a State Senator who wrote the 2008 report entitled, “Restaurants That Are Enough to Make You Sick: An Analysis of Unsanitary Conditions at New York City and Westchester County Restaurants,” also attended the fundraiser, but said that his has not become ill, wrote LoHud.com. This outbreak “shows the need for letter grades for food establishments in the county similar to those in New York City,” Senator Klein pointed out, LoHud.com reported.

The Health Department said it dispatched inspectors to the Hilton and stated, “We are coordinating our response with both the Hilton and the organizers of these events,” LoHud.com wrote. A Hilton spokesman said that the hotel “is making every effort to ensure that all practices and standards are in line with safety and sanitation guidelines.”

Norovirus are a group of viruses that cause swelling in the stomach lining and in the lining of the intestinal tract, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explained. Some 20 million cases of norovirus, including 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths are reported each year. Norovirus is a highly contagious, severe gastrointestinal illness also known as the “stomach flu.” The virus rapidly spreads because norovirus transmits very easily through the vomit and feces of contaminated people; contact with only a few particles can make a person very ill.

Norovirus can survive for weeks on surfaces at room temperature and is very challenging to eliminate. Alcohol-based sanitizers, for instance, do not kill norovirus; only chlorine bleach eradicates the virus. People are considered contagious with norovirus from when they begin to feel ill until at least three days after symptoms have subsided; however, the virus may remain active in their vomit or stool for another two weeks.

People who are sick with norovirus should stay home, limit contact with others, avoid handling food for others, drink plenty of fluids, and contact a doctor, the Health Department said. Other than drinking plenty of liquids and remaining hydrated, there are no treatments and there is no cure for norovirus.

Yesterday, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said it had found Listeria bacteria in multiple locations around the SanGar plant. The Listeria found in samples “matches the DNA fingerprint of the clinical cases of listeriosis reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services,” the agency said in a statement. 

Those findings confirm the results of testing conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services last month. On October 20, Texas officials closed the SanGar plant and ordered a recall of all produce shipped from there since January. It is prohibited from opening without the health department’s approval.

In addition to celery, the SanGar plant produced a variety of other foods, including fresh-cut lettuce, pineapple and honeydew sold in sealed packages. The recalled products were distributed to restaurants and institutional entities, such as hospitals and schools, and are not believed to be sold in grocery stores.

The FDA said Wednesday its inspectors found several other problems at SanGar, including hoses making contact with food, bagged carrots being stored on a wet floor, a lack of adequate drainage areas, foods not being stored at the proper temperature and a failure to safely clean utensils and equipment.

Texas official initially traced six of 10 known cases of Listeria illnesses that occurred in the state during an eight-month period to celery processed at the SanGar plant, including four deaths. They have since linked another case to SanGar, and are investigating three others. A fifth Listeria death in the state is believed to have originated from another source.

Listeria symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, or confusion. The illness is most dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly, very young children, and those with weakened immune systems.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Listeria kills about 500 people each year in the US and about 2,500 people become seriously ill.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is also trying to determine if four additional Listeria cases and one additional death are tied to SanGar products. The illnesses occurred in Bexar, Travis and Hidalgo counties. All of the illnesses were in people with serious underlying health problems.

According to a DSHS statement, laboratory tests of chopped celery from the plant indicated the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause severe illness. Inspectors also discovered sanitation issues at the plant and believe the Listeria found in the chopped celery may have contaminated other food produced there. The department found a condensation leak above a food product area, soil on a preparation table and hand washing issues.

The recalled products – primarily cut fresh produce, including lettuce, pineapple and honeydew in sealed packages – were distributed to restaurants and institutional entities, such as hospitals and schools, and are not believed to be sold in grocery stores.

While it was initially believed that the recalled products were only distributed in Texas, USA Today is reporting that the Website for SanGar Produce and Processing, at the same address as SanGar Fresh Cut Produce, said its products are shipped “indirectly through several of our customers” into Oklahoma. The US Food & Drug Administration is now investigating the outbreak, and could decide to expand the recall.

According to the Associated Press, there have been three reported cases of listeriosis in Oklahoma this year, but the state is not aware of any cases connected to the recall

A Texas health department spokesperson told the Associated Press that the state asked SanGar to close the plant voluntarily, but it refused. The state then ordered the shutdown. SanGar will not be able to reopen the facility without the health department’s approval.

Listeria symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, or confusion. The illness is most dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly, very young children, and those with weakened immune systems.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Listeria kills about 500 people each year in the US and about 2,500 people become seriously ill.

As we’ve reported previously, Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms have recalled more than half a billion eggs due to the nationwide outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis. So far, the CDC has received 1,608 reports of illnesses that may be linked to the recalled eggs.

Since the recall, Wright County Egg and Hillandale have been sending eggs to facilities where eggs were pasteurized to eliminate the threat of salmonella. These eggs were then used in products like cake mixes.

The FDA warning letter issued to Quality Egg LLC, parent company of Wright County Egg, identifies serious deviations from the agency’s regulation on the safety of shell eggs with respect to bio-security, rodent control and other measures. The letter also finds that the eggs at Quality Egg LLC are adulterated because they have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions. The FDA warning letter, dated October 15, was based on an inspection of Quality Egg facilities that occurred between August 12 through 30, 2010.

The letter directs Quality Egg owner Austin “Jack” DeCoster to take “prompt and aggressive actions” to correct the problems cited in the letter. The letter states: “Failure to take prompt corrective action may result in regulatory action being initiated by the Food and Drug Administration without further notice. These actions include, but are not limited to, seizure and/or injunction.”

Hillandale Farms, on the other hand, has received authorization to begin shipping eggs to the table market from three of its egg-producing houses. The three houses have been extensively tested and found to have no evidence of Salmonella contamination. Hillandale Farms has also committed to an enhanced surveillance program for Salmonella, the FDA said.

Four other houses overseen by Hillandale are undergoing further testing before consideration for shipping.

Hillandale Farms has notified the FDA that it intended to begin shipping from the three houses as of yesterday.

DeCoster owns Wright County Egg, which together with Hillandale Farms, also of Iowa, has recalled more than half a billion eggs since August. The Centers for Disease Control has linked the firms’ tainted eggs to more than 1,600 cases of Salmonella around the country.

According to the Times report, DeCoster’s farms were a primary source of Salmonella enteritidis in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s, when some of the first major outbreaks of human illness from the bacteria in eggs occurred. A 1987 outbreak at New York’s Coler Memorial Hospital that killed 9 people and sickened 500 was traced to eggs produced at a farm DeCoster owned in Maryland. The Coler Memorial outbreak still ranks as the deadliest related to eggs in US history.

In a 1982 Salmonella outbreak, three dozen people fell ill and one person died at the Edgewood Manor nursing home in Portsmouth, N.H. The runny scrambled eggs blamed for the illnesses were traced to a farm in Maine that DeCoster owned at the time. According to the Times’, eggs from the same farms were also suspected in a simultaneous outbreak that sickened some 400 people in Massachusetts.

The year after the Coler Memorial outbreak, two other Salmonella outbreaks were linked to DeCoster eggs. At that point, officials in Maryland and New York banned DeCoster eggs, and he was forced to agree to a Salmonella testing program for his Maryland and Maine farms. That testing found that one of his breeder flocks was infected with Salmonella. The breeder hens could have been passing it to their chicks, which in turn would have laid tainted eggs, the Times said. Salmonella was also found in laying barns.

The testing programs didn’t solve DeCoster’s problems, and in 1991, Salmonella contamination was again found at one of his Maryland farms. Maryland quarantined the eggs, and told the DeCoster that he could only ship pasteurized eggs. But a federal judge blocked the move, and DeCoster started shipping again. In 1992, eggs from that same farm were tied to a Connecticut outbreak, the Times said. At that point, federal regulators forced DeCoster to decontaminate his barns.

According to the Times, DeCoster sold his Maryland farms in 1993 and focused his attention on Iowa, where there are no requirements on Salmonella testing. Maine is the only state where DeCoster’s farms have been subject to tough oversight.

This brings us to where we are today, with more than 1,600 people sickened by tainted eggs. And sadly, it doesn’t seem DeCoster has improved his record in Iowa. Since this latest outbreak hit the news, it has been learned that since 2008, Salmonella was found inside Wright County Egg barns more than 400 times. It’s unclear what steps Wright County Egg took in those instances.

In the wake of the latest outbreak and recall, FDA inspections of some Wright County Egg facilities found sanitation problems that could have contributed to Salmonella contamination, including bug and rodent infestations, and uncontained manure piles. The strain of Salmonella involved in the outbreak was identified in samples of Wright’s chicken feed and in a few places on the farm. Storage bins for feed and feed ingredients that had multiple problems which could have led to Salmonella contamination.

As we’ve reported previously, Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms have recalled more than half a billion eggs due to a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis. So far, the CDC has received 1,608 reports of illnesses that may be linked to the recalled eggs. The CDC alert said that illnesses that occurred after August 12 still may not be reported, and also noted that there are likely more cases as most incidences of food borne illnesses are never reported.

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has identified 17 Salmonella samples from the two egg producers that are inextinguishable from the outbreak strain. Samples were collected from manure, as well as traffic areas such as walkways, equipment, other surfaces in and around the farm, and from the feed mill at Wright County Egg in Iowa.

The feed was provided to pullets (young female chickens or hens) raised at Wright County Egg facilities in Iowa. Pullets are distributed to all premises at Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms in Iowa. These findings indicate that Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa are the likely sources of the contaminated shell eggs, the CDC said. The FDA has not found that this feed was distributed to any companies other than Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa.

According to the CDC, people infected with Salmonella Enteritidis usually experience fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea beginning 12 to 72 hours after consuming a contaminated food or beverage. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without antibiotic treatment. However, the diarrhea can be severe, and hospitalization may be required. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems may have a more serious illness. In these patients, the infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Wright County Egg has its own mill that produced finished feed. So far, investigators have not been able to find Salmonella at Wright County Eggs’ suppliers, raising the possibility that the contamination occurred after the feed shipments were delivered.

Wright County Egg also supplied feed to one of two facilities at Hillandale Farms, a farm with which Wright is financially affiliated. Hillandale Farms is the other Iowa egg producer linked to the recent Salmonella outbreak.

As we’ve reported previously, a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) inspection of several Wright County Egg facilities last month uncovered a number of issues that could have led to contaminated eggs, such as bug and animal infestations, and an 8 foot manure pit at one farm.

According to The Wall Street Journal, it isn’t unusual for animal feed to contain Salmonella. However, it is unusual for feed to be contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis, the particularly dangerous strain found in Wright County Eggs’ feed, and the same type associated with the outbreak linked to the company’s eggs.

Over a year ago, the FDA considered a provision in an egg-safety rule that would have required testing for Salmonella enteritidis. An FDA analysis written at the time expressed concerns that feed tainted with Salmonella enteritidis could infect egg-laying hens and spark a human outbreak before being detected. If “feed is contaminated with SE (Salmonella enteritidis), the consequences for human health are potentially large,” the agency wrote.

Unfortunately, the FDA dropped the proposal. Companies were against it, and the FDA determined it would cost egg producers $29 million per year. The FDA declined to say whether a testing mandate would have affected Wright’s feed mill, the Journal said.

Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms have recalled more than half a billion eggs due to the nationwide outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1,500 illnesses may be associated with the recalled eggs.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the USDA and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have a formal understanding in which the USDA is supposed to notify the FDA of sanitary issues. If the USDA notifies the FDA that it has stopped grading eggs due to a health issue, the FDA sends inspectors to the farm, and can ask the farm to stop shipping eggs.

According to an Associated Press report, USDA employees were based next to areas where roughly 7.7 million caged hens laid eggs at the two operations. As part of an industry-paid program, the USDA egg graders were at the facilities at least 40 hours per week.

According to USDA daily sanitation reports obtained by The Wall Street Journal, egg inspectors observed bugs and overflowing trash earlier this year at Wright County Egg Plant 170. That facility produced many of the recalled eggs.

Reviews from last year and April of this year generally found conditions satisfactory, the Journal said. But in May, the marks shifted to “unsatisfactory” in several areas including some deemed “critical,” and reports filed in June and July were even worse. In spite of this, the USDA inspectors did not stop production at the facility.

The USDA said it didn’t give notice because “the conditions at the egg plant packing facilities were routine,” the Journal said. USDA officials also maintained that inspectors notified the plant manager each morning when they saw issues, and facilities were cleaned up before production began.

It isn’t clear whether the sanitation problems identified by the USDA graders had anything to do with the Salmonella contamination, the Journal said. But critics of the agency say the USDA missed an opportunity to raise an early alarm about safety that might have brought about a more timely federal response. In August, when the FDA finally inspected Wright County Egg facilities, the agency also found many unsanitary conditions including mice, maggots and manure piles as high as eight feet.

USDA employees were based next to areas where roughly 7.7 million caged hens laid eggs at the two operations, the Associated Press said. As part of an industry-paid program, the USDA egg graders were at the facilities at least 40 hours per week.

According to a USA Today report, such inspectors only look for vermin inside the specific processing building where they are based. Though USDA regulations say buildings and “outside premises” must be free of conditions that harbor vermin, it considers outside premises as only the area immediately around the processing building’s loading dock and trash receptacle, the report said. Such inspectors have no authority to look at the laying barns, even though they are connected to the processing facilities.

According to the Associated Press, the two ex-workers, Robert and Deanna Arnold, were employed at Wright County’s Galt Farm and another at Alden, Iowa off and on between the early 1990s to late 2008 and early 2009. They said they reported problems such as mice, leaking manure and dead chickens to USDA employees, but nothing was done.

“It didn’t matter which USDA officer was working, if we reported something they would just turn their heads,” Deanna Arnold said. “They didn’t care.”

The conditions described by the Arnolds echo the sanitation problems found by US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors at both Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, the second producer involved in the outbreak, during visits to their facilities last month. According to the Associated Press, the FDA shares responsibility for egg-laying operations with the USDA: The FDA oversees areas where hens lay eggs and the USDA is in charge of the eggs as they are packaged. However, prior to August, the FDA had not expected egg-laying areas at either Wright County Egg or Hillandale Farms.

As we’ve reported previously, new rules that took effect last month will require more testing and inspections of egg producers.

Hillandale Farms and Wright County Egg have together recalled more than half a million shell eggs since mid-August. According to the Centers for Disease Control, at least 1,470 reported illnesses are likely to be associated with the multi-state Salmonella outbreak.

Hamburg would not say if Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have visited any of Wright County Egg’s facilities. She referred further questions to the U.S. attorney in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but according to the Journal, that office couldn’t be reached for comment.

Hillandale Farms, also of Iowa, and Wright County Egg have between them recalled more than half a million shell eggs since mid-August. According to the Centers for Disease Control, at least 1,470 reported illnesses are likely to be associated with the multi-state Salmonella outbreak.

As we reported previously, the FDA has released reports on Wright County Egg, its parent company, Quality Egg, and Hillandale Farms that detailed sanitation problems at the producers’ facilities. The strain of Salmonella involved in the outbreak was identified in samples of Wright’s chicken feed and in a few places on the farm. The inspection also uncovered storage bins for feed and feed ingredients that had multiple problems which could have led to Salmonella contamination.

It was also learned yesterday that FDA inspectors had visited Central Bi-Products, part of Farmers Union Industries. Central Bi-Products produced bone meal, which Wright County Egg used as an ingredient in its feed. The inspectors visited Farmers Union Industries’ offices in Redwood Falls on Tuesday, and yesterday inspected a rendering plant in Long Prairie, Minnesota that produced the bone meal.

In other developments, egg inspectors for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) are coming under fire for their role in the Salmonella debacle. According to USA Today, USDA staff were regularly on site at both Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms prior to the outbreak and recalls. As part of an industry-paid program, the USDA egg graders were at the producers facilities at least 40 hours per week inspecting the size and quality of eggs inside processing buildings.

But according to USA Today, such inspectors only look for vermin inside the specific processing building where they are based. Though USDA regulations say buildings and “outside premises” must be free of conditions that harbor vermin, it considers outside premises as only the area immediately around the processing building’s loading dock and trash receptacle, the report said. Such inspectors have no authority to look at the laying barns, even though they are connected to the processing facilities.

According to USA Today, it is not known if the USDA inspectors identified any issues in the areas of the facilities they are responsible for, and their inspection reports are still being reviewed.

Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms have recalled more than half a billion eggs due to a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it has received a total of 2,403 reports of Salmonella Enteritidis around the U.S. from May 1 to August 25, 2010. The agency said it would normally expect approximately 933 total illnesses during this same period. This means that there are approximately 1,470 reported illnesses that are likely to be associated with tainted eggs, according to the CDC. The same Salmonella strain associated with the outbreak was subsequently identified in environmental samples at Wright County Egg and in feed used by both Wright and Hillandale.

According to the Associated Press, a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) spokesperson and an assistant U.S. attorney for Iowa confirmed the presence of the agents at Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, but would not say what agency they worked for. It is not known if the new investigation is the first step in a criminal probe, but as the Associated Press report points out, the FDA has the authority to coordinate with the Justice Department on criminal investigations involving adulterated food.

This is not the first time federal officials have been to the egg producers in connection with the Salmonella outbreak. Yesterday, we reported that last month, FDA inspectors visited six farms operated by Wright County Egg/ Quality Egg, and three Hillandale Farms locations. According to 483 reports detailing the visits, inspectors found a number of problems that could have led to contaminated eggs, such as bug and animal infestations, and an 8 foot manure pit at one farm.

According to the Associated Press, Austin “Jack” DeCoster, the owner of Wright County Egg, has a spotty history when it comes to complying with regulations. He has already paid millions of dollars in state and federal fines over the years for health, safety, immigration and environmental violations.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the companies involved in the Salmonella egg debacle have begun pointing fingers in attempt to assign blame for the outbreak. Wright County Egg, for example, suggested the contamination might have come from a feed ingredient, bone meal, supplied by another company. Not surprisingly, that firm, Central Bi-Products of Redwood Falls, Minn., strongly disagreed and said its heat-processed bone meal was untainted when it was shipped.

As the Journal pointed out, the August FDA inspection of Wright County Egg/Quality Egg uncovered storage bins for feed and feed ingredients that had multiple problems which could have led to contamination. Some bins were rusted, porous and exposed to live birds and bird feces, and the FDA said rodents, a major source of Salmonella, appeared to have access to many parts of the barn where the feed was kept, the Journal said.

According to WebMD, inspectors also observed farm workers traveling from henhouse to henhouse without cleaning their tools or changing their shoes or clothing, and uncaged birds that tracked manure from manure pits to the laying houses. At the second Iowa egg producer linked to the outbreak, Hillandale Farms, inspectors uncovered unsealed rodent holes and live rodents entering facilities, as well as standing water and liquid manure leaking into a section of the floor.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the findings were detailed on Form 483 reports for both Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms. They “indicate inspectors’ observations only and don’t constitute a final ruling on any violations of FDA regulations,” the Journal said.

The FDA inspections covered six farms operated by Wright County Egg/ Quality Egg, and three Hillandale Farms locations. The inspections were conducted in August, after new egg safety rules went into effect. According to CNN, inspectors said neither company fully adhered to their Salmonella enteritidis prevention plans

Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms have recalled more than half a billion eggs due to a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it has received a total of 2,403 reports of Salmonella Enteritidis around the U.S. from May 1 to August 25, 2010. The agency said it would normally expect approximately 933 total illnesses during this same period. This means that there are approximately 1,470 reported illnesses that are likely to be associated with tainted eggs, according to the CDC. The same Salmonella strain associated with the outbreak was subsequently identified in environmental samples at Wright County Egg and in feed used by both Wright and Hillandale.

According to WebMD, during at teleconference held yesterday, FDA officials refused to say whether the findings detailed by the 483 reports are uncommon at large egg-producing facilities. However, as we reported yesterday, the Salmonella outbreak has prompted the FDA to launch inspections of 600 large egg farms that produce 80 percent of the nation’s eggs. The inspections, which are slated to begin in September, will target farms that have 50,000 or more hens. Inspectors will be looking for safety violations that could increase the chance of Salmonella entering the egg supply.

As we’ve been reporting, more than a half billion eggs distributed by Iowa’s Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms have been recalled due to the outbreak. According to the CDC, it has received a total of 2,403 reports of Salmonella Enteritidis around the U.S. from May 1 to August 25, 2010. The agency said it would normally expect approximately 933 total illnesses during this same period. This means that there are approximately 1,470 reported illnesses that are likely to be associated with tainted eggs, according to the CDC. The same Salmonella strain associated with the outbreak was subsequently identified in environmental samples at Wright County Egg and in feed used by both Wright and Hillandale.

According to an Associated Press report published over the weekend, FDA inspectors will visit about 600 large egg farms that produce 80 percent of the nation’s eggs. The information was provided by an anonymous Obama administration official, according to the report.

The new inspection plan, which is set to begin in September, targets farms that have 50,000 or more hens, the Associated Press said. Inspectors will be looking for safety violations that could increase the chance of Salmonella entering the egg supply.

The FDA has said previously that it had not inspected either Wright County Egg or Hillandale Farms prior to the outbreak and recalls. The egg farm inspections scheduled for next month will be conducted under new rules the FDA enacted last month to prevent Salmonella in shell eggs, the Associated Press said.

In other news, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, has written to both the FDA and CDC with questions about how the public was notified of the Salmonella outbreak. The letter, dated last Thursday, points out that Wright County Egg had posted a notice about a voluntary egg recall on the FDA Web site on August 13, a Friday, but the first formal public announcement of the outbreak did not come until the CDC posted a notice on its Web site the following Monday.

“Between the initial company press release on Friday and the CDC announcement the following Monday, it was possible for many consumers to purchase recalled eggs over the weekend, which is when many Americans do their grocery shopping,” the letter said. “Also, because of the absence of any CDC guidance, many more may have consumed recalled eggs over the weekend.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan, announced Thursday that a separate House subcommittee will hold hearings September 14 on the safety of the nation’s food supply. The subcommittee has requested inspection reports and notices of any violations, among other documents, from Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms.

The product subject to recall includes:

• 42-pound cases of “GROUND BEEF FINE 90/10,” containing three (3) – approximately 14 pound chubs each. These products have a “use/freeze by” date of “07/01/10,” and an identifying product code of “W69032.”

The recalled ground beef bears the establishment number “EST. 9400″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on June 11, 2010, and were shipped to distribution centers in Connecticut and Maryland for further distribution. According to a report on CNN.com, it is believed certain BJ’s Wholesale Club stores in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Virginia received the recalled ground beef.

The USDA has deemed this ground beef recall Class I, which means a health hazard situation exists where there is a reasonable probability that consumption of the recalled ground beef will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death. Consumers are being strongly encouraged to check their freezers and immediately discard any ground beef subject to this recall.

E. coli O26 is a bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider. Of the three illnesses associated with this recalled ground beef, the USDA said one occurred in New York, while two others were reported in Maine. None of the cases required hospitalization.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall should contact the Cargill Meat Solution’s Consumer Line at (877) 788-4953.

Sherri McGarry of the FDA said Salmonella was found in the farm’s food mill and in manure, adding that samples are still being drawn at Hillandale Farms, said CNN. ''Feed were the sources [of the salmonella], but perhaps not the only sources," McGarry said, quoted CNN. Officials said birds, rodents, or people’s shoes or boots could have tainted feed, noted CNN. Wright County Egg said the FDA also tested meat and bone meal, used as a feed ingredient and supplied by Central Bi-Products.

The feed was produced at a Wright County Egg mill and fed to pullet chickens at Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, the two farms at the center of the massive outbreak that involved a recall of over a half-billion eggs and which are owned by the DeCoster family, said CNN. Austin “Jack” DeCoster has been cited and paid hefty fines for a range of violations that include animal cruelty, ongoing environmental problems, federal immigration charges, and mistreating employees, said the Des Moines Register.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2,403 cases of Salmonella enteriditis were reported in the US from May 1 through August 25. Because 933 would normally be reported during this time, it’s believed the huge spike of 1,470 cases is likely linked to tainted eggs, said CDC spokeswoman, reported CNN. Officials speaking in a conference call said this outbreak is the largest of Salmonella enteriditis since tracking for such outbreaks was initiated in the mid-1970s, said CNN.

More people are expect to report being sickened as it could take weeks for Salmonella poisoning to become apparent, said Dr. Christopher R. Braden, CDC’s acting director of the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, wrote CNN. Representative Bart Stupak (Democrat-Michigan) said a House subcommittee is conducting hearings September 14 into the nation's food supply safety, added CNN.

Wright County Egg, recalled 380 million eggs, with 60-egg cases sold under the Cardenas Market brand in California and Nevada. Those eggs are labeled with plant number 1026 and date codes 136 to 228. The plant number begins with the letter P, explained CNN. Trafficanda Egg Ranch also just released a statement it was conducting a voluntary recall of Wright County-supplied shell eggs distributed to grocery stores and food-service companies in California in 12-egg cartons and 20- and 60-egg over-wrapped packages with date codes 136 to 229 and plant numbers 1026, 1413, 1720, 1942 and 1946, said CNN. The Egg Safety Center said the sub-recalls were already included in the Wright County Egg recall, said CNN.

We just wrote that state and federal health agencies knew Wright County Egg was the likely source of the outbreak a couple of weeks before the public was advised, according to USA Today, citing health officials it interviewed. We also wrote that the recall could have been largely prevented with low-cost vaccinations, citing the Associated Press (AP). Although the vaccination has been available in the US since 1992, it is not mandated. The Wall Street Journal wrote that the New York Times reported that the FDA considered a mandate to vaccinate hens against Salmonella under its emerging egg safety rules, but rejected the program.

As far back as late July, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) thought about advising consumer to not eat undercooked eggs, according to Ian Williams, CDC chief of outbreak response, said USA Today. Instead of issuing a warning, the CDC, instead, allowed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to complete its probe of Wright County Egg, said USA Today.

Donna Rosenbaum, a food safety advocate who operates Safe Tables Our Priority described the delay as “very disturbing,” adding, "We understand that public health officials do not like to go out on a limb and be wrong…. We firmly believe you should err on the side of telling consumers,” quoted USA Today.

Some 550 million eggs have been recalled by both Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, the two producers linked to the recall. Both firms are owned by the DeCoster family, owner of agribusiness firms in the Midwest and Northeast, said CNN. Recently, Austin “Jack” DeCoster was cited and paid hefty fines for a range of violations that include animal cruelty, ongoing environmental problems, federal immigration charges, and mistreating employees, said the Des Moines Register.

According to the CDC, about 1,300 illnesses have been linked to the outbreak. About 30 cases are estimated to be unreported for each reported case.

USA Today noted that in late July, both the California and Minnesota state health departments connected a number of Salmonella outbreaks to small restaurants, believing eggs to be responsible, with Wright County Egg as the supplier, according to Williams. Despite this, the FDA took until August 10 to advise Wright County Egg, holding off on providing details until August 12, said company spokeswoman, Hinda Mitchell, wrote USA Today. The decision to recall took place after Wright County Egg spoke with FDA the following morning.

Jeff Farrar, FDA associate commissioner for food protection, said the agency needed a variety of paperwork to confirm Wright County Egg supplied the contaminated eggs, wrote USA Today. "We have seen instances in the past where preliminary information on tracebacks was wrong," Farrar said, quoted USA Today. On August 9th the FDA believed it had the information needed to contact the egg producer advising it to issue the recall on August 11th. The FDA and Wright County Eggs were unable to explain why their individual first contact dates are not the same.

Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), described the FDA’s delay as excessive, calling the paperwork description as "a fairly bureaucratic excuse," quoted USA Today. "Every day you delay a recall you're risking additional illnesses," she added.

Meanwhile, we just wrote that the massive egg recall could have been largely prevented with low-cost vaccinations, citing the Associated Press (AP). Although the vaccination has been available in the US since 1992, it is not mandated in the U.S.; however, the vaccines are used in Britain, where they enjoy the safest egg supply in Europe.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times reported that the FDA considered a mandate to vaccinate hens against the Salmonella pathogen under its emerging egg safety rules, but rejected the program.

A 2009 survey conducted by the European food safety agency revealed that about one percent of British flocks was infected with Salmonella versus 60-to-70 percent of other European flocks, said Amanda Cryer, a spokeswoman for the British Egg Information Service, wrote to the AP. The Salmonella vaccination works to prevent chickens from becoming sick with Salmonella and passing the bacteria to their eggs.

In Britain, the vaccination program is needed for producers to obtain an industry seal of approval, wrote the Wall Street Journal. In the U.S., about half of the producers vaccinate their hens, said the Journal, which noted that the New York Times wrote that officials at the FDA said there was insufficient evidence to mandate the vaccination program.

According to the Journal, the New York Times reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considered a mandate to vaccinate hens against the pathogen under its emerging egg safety rules. The FDA rejected the vaccination program.

As of this morning, Michigan is the newest state to be affected by the historic recall, bringing the impacted states to 23, noted the Journal.

Yesterday we wrote that, according to a news release from Representative Henry Waxman (Democrat-California), the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked for information from Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa, the two distributors involved in the current recall, said CNN. Waxman is the Committee’s chairman.

Waxman and fellow representative democrat, Bart Stupak (Michigan), chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, wrote to the egg producers seeking information on the contamination that appears to have originated in their locations, said CNN previously. Among the demands, the chairmen seek information as to when the firms alerted the government and consumers about the contamination, noted CNN.

The DeCoster family, owner of agribusiness firms in the Midwest and Northeast, owns Wright County and Quality Egg said CNN. Recently, Austin “Jack” DeCoster was cited for animal cruelty, said CNN.
The Des Moines Register pointed out that DeCoster, deemed an habitual violator by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for ongoing environmental problems in the 1990s, pleaded guilty in 2003 to federal immigration charges, paying a $1.25 million fine. 
DeCoster was “heavily fined” by the Labor Department for mistreating his Maine egg farm workers and, recently, agreed to pay $130,000 to settle state animal cruelty charges, said the Des Moines Register.

Salmonella bacteria can either contaminate the outside of the shell from fecal matter or infect the inside of the egg if the chicken has Salmonella poisoning, said the Des Moines Register, which also wrote that, based on the magnitude of the recall, egg prices are expected to increase, with the wholesale price of a dozen eggs up about 40 percent since news of the outbreak made headlines.

The two farms that recalled approximately 550 million potentially tainted eggs seem to share ties with an Iowa businessman who “has been cited for numerous health, safety, and employment violations over the years,” quoted the CS Monitor, citing an Associated Press (AP) report.

According to the AP, businessman Austin DeCoster owns Wright County Egg, which is the first recalling farm linked to some of the Salmonella poisoning cases, said the CS Monitor. DeCoster also apparently owns Quality Egg, a chicken and feed supplier to Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa, said the CS Monitor, which noted that Hillandale Farms is the second farm involved in the growing egg recall. “DeCoster is no stranger to controversy in his food and farm operations,” said the AP.

It is known that DeCoster’s company agreed to pay hefty fines over allegations about “health, safety, and employment discrimination issues” and has been involved with immigration raids and animal-cruelty allegations, wrote the CS Monitor.

According to the CS Monitor, the recall has spread to 14 states—Arkansas, California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin—and includes the following brands: Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, and Sunny Meadow. Six-egg, 12-egg, 18-egg, and 30-egg cartons and five-dozen cases have been involved, said the CS Monitor, which noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that the investigation into the potential contamination could take months.

The AP report said, quoted the CS Monitor that, “DeCoster's Wright County Egg is already facing at least two lawsuits related to the egg recall…. One is from food distributor Dutch Farms, which says the company used unauthorized cartons to package and sell eggs under its brand without its knowledge. The other is from a person who said they became ill after eating tainted eggs in a salad at a restaurant in Kenosha, Wisconsin.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 2,000 people have been sickened, to date; federal officials expect that number to rise. This outbreak, which health officials believe started in May, is already the largest of its type related to eggs in years and now involves more than a-half billion eggs.

In response to the outbreak, the FDA has activated its emergency operations command center and is also initiating effectiveness checks of the recall, conducting checks at retail stores, wholesalers, and distributors to make sure the recalled shell eggs are being removed from the market.

The industry group United Egg Producers is maintaining a complete list of recalled brands and descriptions, which can be accessed at: http://www.eggsafety.org/mediacenter/alerts/73-recall-affected-brands-and-descriptions

Last week, Wright County Egg of Iowa recalled 228 million eggs after a traceback investigation by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) linked some illnesses to the firm’s eggs. Yesterday, we reported that the recall had been expanded, and it now involves more than 300 million eggs, making it one of the largest in recent history.

In response to the outbreak, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has activated its emergency operations command center. An initial team of 10 FDA investigators has been sent to Wright County Egg into inspect the farms and determine the source of the contamination. More investigators are being deployed to help on-site, looking to find the source of the contamination. Investigators are performing environmental assessments of farm conditions and practices including pest and rodent controls, biosecurity plans, environmental monitoring, sanitary controls, and feed sources, the agency said.

The FDA is also initiating effectiveness checks of the recall, conducting checks at retail stores, wholesalers and distributors to make sure the recalled shell eggs are being removed from the market,

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 (infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Through July 17, the CDC has received some 2,000 reports of illness due to Salmonella Enteritidis. That’s triple the number of cases usually seen in late summer. The CDC is warning that illnesses that occurred since July 17 may not have been reported yet.

As a reminder, the shell eggs under the August 13, 2010 recall are packaged under the brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. Shell eggs are packed in 6-egg cartons, 12-egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, and loose eggs with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 225 and plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946.

Recalled shell eggs affected by the expanded recall are packaged under the brand names: Albertsons, Farm Fresh, James Farms, Glenview, Mountain Dairy, Ralphs, Boomsma, Lund, Kemps and Pacific Coast. Eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (6-egg, 12-egg, and18-egg cartons, and loose eggs for institutional use and repackaging) with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 229 and plant numbers 1720 and 1942.

Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton or printed on the case label. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P-1720 223.

The FDA is reminding consumers not to eat the recalled eggs, and to discard them or return them to their retailer for a refund. Individuals who think they might have become ill from eating recalled eggs should consult their health care providers. If consumers are unsure about the source of their eggs, they are urged not to eat them and to discard them immediately.

The CDC is also reminding the public to:

• Keep eggs refrigerated at ≤ 45° F (≤7° C) at all times.

• Discard cracked or dirty eggs.

• Wash hands, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs.

• Eggs should be cooked until both the white and the yolk are firm and eaten promptly after cooking.

• Do not keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

• Refrigerate unused or leftover egg- containing foods promptly.

• Avoid eating raw eggs.

• Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs. Restaurants should use pasteurized eggs in any recipe (such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing) that calls for raw eggs.

• Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs should be avoided, especially by young children, elderly persons, and persons with weakened immune systems or debilitating illness.

According to the recall notice, these eggs were packaged 6-egg cartons, dozen-egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, 30-egg package, and 5-dozen cases.

The recall also includes loose eggs packaged under the following brand names: Wholesome Farms and West Creek in 15 and 30-dozen tray packs. The loose eggs may also be repackaged by customers, the notice said.

The only eggs affected by this recall have plant numbers P1860 or P1663 and Julian dates as follows:

• P1860 – Julian dates ranging from 099 to 230
• P1663 – Julian dates ranging from 137 to 230

Julian dates and plant codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton or printed on the case label. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P1860 230.

Eggs affected by this recall were distributed to grocery distribution centers, retail grocery stores and foodservice companies which service or are located in fourteen states, including the following: Arkansas, California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Consumers who believe they may have purchased these shell eggs should not eat them but should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact Hillandale Farms at (866) 262-4208.

The Hillandale Farms recall follows a recall of more than 300 million eggs by Wright County Eggs, also located in Iowa.

A nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis has been associated with shell eggs. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), at least 2,000 people have been sickened.

Salmonella Enteritidis is the most common type of salmonella poisoning. It 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, 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, endocarditis or arthritis.

The recalled eggs were distributed by Wright County Egg, in Galt, Iowa, and are packaged under the following brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. According to an Associated Press report, the recall involves 228 million eggs.

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) says consumers shouldn’t eat the eggs and they should return them to the store where they were purchased. The recalled eggs were packed in cartons of various sizes, including 6-egg cartons, dozen-egg cartons and 18-egg cartons, and feature Julian dates ranging from 136 to 225 and plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946. Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The date follows the plant number. For example: P-1946 223.

The eggs were distributed to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. However, all of these companies distribute nationwide.

According to the CDC, there has been a four-fold increase in the number of Salmonella Enteritidis infections reported to PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories. Other states have also reported increases since May 2010.

Preliminary information from investigations of outbreaks in California, Colorado, and Minnesota revealed several restaurants or events where more than one person ill with this type of Salmonella had eaten. Information suggests that shell eggs are the likely source of infections in many of these restaurants or events, the CDC said.

As we reported last week, Taco Bell restaurants have been implicated in two different Salmonella outbreaks involving the Hartford and Baildon strains. At least 155 people in 21 states have been sickened in the outbreaks. No deaths were reported, but about 30 percent of the Hartford and 40 percent of the Baildon cases have required hospitalization.

The two strains rarely cause food-borne illnesses in the US. In fact, the last Baildon outbreak was in the winter of 1998-99 and also involved tomatoes, according to the site.

According to a report on OregonLive.com, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has not officially named Taco Bell as the culprit, instead referring to a unnamed Mexican-style fast food chain it calls “Restaurant A.” However, an official with Oregon Public Health told the site that: “It’s been clear for weeks that Taco Bell was the source for many of the illnesses.”

Because the illnesses have been reported in so many states, experts believe the pathogens may have been present on vegetables that were contaminated before they arrived at the restaurants.

According to the Kentucky lawsuit, Jo Anne Smith became ill with symptoms typical of Salmonella poisoning two days after she had eaten tacos garnished with lettuce, cheese, and sour cream from a Frankfort Taco Bell. On May 29, the 45-year-old Smith was so weak and dehydrated that she called her husband and asked him to take her to the emergency room. A stool sample Smith submitted while at the ER later returned positive for Salmonella Hartford.

This is not the first time Taco Bell restaurants have been implicated in an outbreak of food borne illness. In 2000, tainted green onions served by the chain were tied to an outbreak of hepatitis. Then in 2006 an E. coli outbreak linked to tainted lettuce served at the restaurants sickened at least 71 many patrons in five states.

According to a report on OregonLive.com, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has not officially named Taco Bell as the culprit, instead referring to a unnamed Mexican-style fast food chain it calls “Restaurant A.” However, an official with Oregon Public Health told the site that: “It’s been clear for weeks that Taco Bell was the source for many of the illnesses.”

The same official did add, however, that its not clear that all of the illnesses are linked to Taco Bell, and that the outbreaks can’t be attributed to just a single Taco Bell restaurant.

A CDC spokesperson told OregonLive that “naming a restaurant could have an economic impact on the company’s bottom line.”

According to the CDC, the two outbreaks involve Salmonella Hartford and Baildon strains. OregonLive.com reported that the two strains rarely cause food-borne illnesses in the US. In fact, the last Baildon outbreak was in the winter of 1998-99 and also involved tomatoes, according to the site.

As of August 1, the CDC said a total of 75 individuals infected with Salmonella Hartford have been reported from 15 states since April 1. The number of ill people identified in each state with this strain is as follows: Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (5), Indiana (11), Kentucky (23), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (3), Montana (1), North Carolina (1), New Hampshire (1), New York (1), Ohio (19), PA (1), South Carolina (1) and Wisconsin (4).

Since August 1, a total of 80 individuals infected with a matching strain of Salmonella Baildon have been reported from 15 states since May 1, the CDC said. The number of ill people identified in each state with this strain is as follows: Connecticut (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (20), Indiana (4), Kentucky (5), Masscahusetts (1), Michigan (4), Minnesota (5), New Jersey (6), New York (2), Ohio (6), Oregon (1), Washington (1) and Wisconsin (22).

Accord to the CDC, epidemiologic studies comparing foods eaten by ill and well persons were conducted for both outbreaks. In each study, analysis indicates that eating at a “Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain, Restaurant Chain A” is associated with some illnesses. Among persons eating at “Restaurant Chain A”, no specific food item or ingredient was found to be associated with illness for either outbreak, the agency said.

According to the CDC, most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12–72 hours after infection. Infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Although most people recover without treatment, severe infections can occur. Infants, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness. When severe infection occurs, Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

Last April, NY Gourmet Salads recalled 60 pounds of its 5-pound tubs of Chick Pea Salad because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. The most serious forms of listeriosis can result in meningitis and septicemia. Pregnant women may contract flu-like symptoms from listeriosis, and complications from the disease can result in miscarriage, or septicemia in the newborn.

The Justice Department, in an action initiated by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), is seeking a permanent injunction against NY Gourmet Salads, Inc. in a complaint filed July 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. FDA inspections have documented insanitary conditions at NY Gourmet’s facility and a failure to follow applicable FDA regulations concerning the production of food and seafood products. According to the complaint, the company promised to address and correct deficiencies following inspections in 2006, 2007, and 2009, but the FDA’s most recent inspection in March 2010 confirmed that the company continued to operate without adequate controls.

The complaint says that recent FDA testing has found Listeria monocytogenes throughout New York Gourmet Salads’ facility and in a sample of finished product. The complaint also says that the strain of Listeria found in a sample of the company’s chickpea salad in 2010 was indistinguishable from the strain of found in the defendants’ facility during a 2009 inspection, indicating that the Listeria had likely formed a lasting presence in the defendants’ facility.

“Based on their longstanding pattern of conduct, defendants, unless restrained by order of this court, will continue to manufacture and distribute articles of food in violation” of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the complaint said.

NY Gourmet Salads sells its products to customers in New York and New Jersey, including a New Jersey gourmet supermarket with locations in Brick and Freehold, and an airline caterer in Jamaica, N.Y.

The FDA is warning consumers not to eat frozen mamey fruit pulp sold under the La Nuestra brand by Montalvan Sales Inc. Ontario, California, or the Goya brand by Goya Foods Inc. Secaucus, New Jersey. An investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state partners found an epidemiologic link between an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella Typhi infections and the products.

The CDC reports that, to date, at least nine people in California and Nevada are ill with typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi. Ill individuals have reported consuming mamey fruit pulp, including mamey fruit smoothies at juice stands. Consumers with recalled La Nuestra or Goya brand frozen mamey pulp in their homes are urged to discard them immediately and to determine what brand of mamey is used in drinks prepared at juice stands and stores.

This Salmonella Typhi outbreak is not related to the current outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to eggs in their shells. Epidemiologic evidence links imported frozen mamey sold by Montalvan's Sales Inc.— La Nuestra brand—and by Goya Foods to this ongoing outbreak. Both companies receive their mamey from one supplier in Guatemala.

Infections with Salmonella Typhi cause typhoid fever, which is more common in developing countries. Eight of those who fell ill report not having traveled outside the U.S. Salmonella Typhi only lives in humans. Infection results from consuming food or beverages handled by a person shedding S. Typhi or if sewage contaminated with S. Typhi bacteria gets into the water used for drinking or washing food. Once S. Typhi bacteria are consumed, they multiply and spread into the bloodstream. The body reacts with fever, severe abdominal pain, and other signs and symptoms.

Most ill persons require hospitalization for antibiotic treatment. Those with typhoid fever carry the bacteria in their bloodstream and intestinal tract; a small number, called carriers, recover from typhoid fever but continue to carry the bacteria. Both ill persons and carriers shed S. Typhi in their feces (stool). To confirm typhoid fever, stool samples or blood must be tested for the presence of Salmonella Typhi. Consumers who suspect that they have typhoid fever should see their health care professionals immediately.

Both the Goya and La Nuestra products are sold frozen. The recalled “La Nuestra” brand mamey pulp was distributed in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, through retail stores and comes in a 14-ounce plastic package. All lot numbers are affected; however, packages produced prior to May 2009 are not identified with a lot number and are subject to this recall as well; the UPC is 7-56869-10008-4. Montalvan’s Sales, Inc.’s Consumer Affairs can be reached Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, at (909) 930-5670.

We recently wrote that in its recall announcement, Goya Foods said its mamey fruit pulp comes in 14-ounce plastic packages. All lot numbers are affected by this recall; however, packages produced prior to May 2009 are not identified with a lot number and are subject to this recall as well.

According to the recall notice, the frozen reptile feed was distributed in all states, except Hawaii, through pet stores and by mail order and direct delivery. It was shipped in plastic bags with the following product codes M-SP100, M-P100, M-PF100, M-F100, M-H100, M-W50, M-A50, M-JA25, R-P100, R-F50, R-PUP50, R-W50, R-S50, R-M20, R-L10,R-J5, R-C5, R-M3 followed by E9, F9, G9, H9, I9, J9, K9, L9 or A10, B10, C10, D10, E10, F10, G10 and whole frozen chicks in 25 count bags.

The recall is based upon sampling by the Food & Drug Administration of frozen mice. The recalled products should not be fed to animals, even after heating in a microwave oven, since the heating may not be adequate to kill Salmonella.

Consumers who purchased reptile feed from Mice Direct are urged to contact the company by telephone at 888-747-0736 from 9:00a.m-5:00p.m EST Monday-Friday or by e-mail at sales@micedirect.com for instructions concerning this recall and for credits towards replacement of unused product.

According to an Associated Press report, since January, 30 human illnesses possibly associated with the reptile feed have been reported around the country. The Centers for Disease Control is investigating the outbreak.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Mice Direct said in a statement that reptile feed shipped after July 24 will be irradiated in a similar manner as raw food for human consumption in order to address the Salmonella issue associated with these products.

The following Iams products, available by prescription via veterinary clinics throughout the U.S., are included in this recall:

Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs, Lot Code 01384174B4, UPC Code 0 19014 21405

Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs, Lot Code 01384174B2, UPC Code 0 19014 21405 1

Lot codes can be found in the lower right corner on the back of the bag.

According to the recall notice, a Food & Drug Administration analysis identified a positive result on the lot codes listed above. However, no illnesses have been associated with these recalled Iams products.

People handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

For further information or a product refund, consumers may call Procter & Gamble toll-free at 877-894-4458 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST).

This is the second recall of a Fresh Express bagged salad since May. That month, the firm recalled Romaine-based ready-to-eat bagged salads because of possible Salmonella contamination.

According to today’s notice, this latest recall is being issued because one package of Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine salad yielded a positive result for E. coli O157:H7 in a random sample test collected and conducted by a third-party laboratory for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall.

The recalled salad products were distributed in California, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Washington and Nevada. A complete listing of products involved in this recall can be found here.

Consumers have been advised to check their refrigerators for Fresh Express Romaine salads with Use-by Dates of July 8 – 12 and an “S” in the Product Code. Retailers should check their inventories and store shelves to confirm that none of the product is mistakenly present or available for purchase by consumers.

E. coli O157:H7 is a bacterium that can cause serious foodborne illness in a person who eats a food item contaminated with it. Symptoms of infection may include severe and often bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting. Often, little or no fever is present. Most healthy adults recover within a week. Young children and the elderly are at higher risk for developing Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) as a result of the infection. HUS can lead to serious kidney damage and death. Consumers who may experience these symptoms should consult a doctor.

Fresh Express’ previous recall for potentially Salmonella-tainted Romaine salads involved those with the expired Use-by Dates of May 13th through May 16th and an “S” in the Product Code. Those products were sold in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Nebraska, Montana, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. No illnesses were traced to those recalled salads.

According to the recall notice, ConAgra was informed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of an investigation involving 29 people in 14 states who have been diagnosed with Salmonella infections linked to Salmonella serotype Chester. Eight people sickened in the outbreak specifically reported eating the Marie Callender’s meals in April and May before becoming sick. The last reported illness was reported on May 22.

The products subject to recall include:

• 13-ounce packages of “Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken & Rice White Meat Chicken and Broccoli over Rice Topped with Rich Cheddar Sauce.”

Each package bears a label with establishment number “P-45″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. The Marie Callender’s frozen dinners were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

Consumers who purchased these dinners should throw the product away and return the package to the retailer for a refund. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact ConAgra Foods at 1-866-484-9610.

Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or those undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

According to a report in USA Today, the CDC estimates that for every lab-confirmed-Salmonella case, there are roughly 38 people sick. That means that hundreds of unreported illness could be associated with this recall.

This urgent recall affects raw alfalfa sprouts packaged and labeled as:

• Caldwell Fresh Foods – 4-ounce plastic cups and one-pound plastic bags, and 2-pound and 5-pound plastic bags in cardboard boxes with sticker affixed with the printed words “Caldwell Fresh Foods”

• Nature’s Choice – 4-ounce plastic cups

• California Exotics brands – 5-ounce plastic clamshell containers

No other sprouts are included in this recall.

Salmonella is a bacterium that 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. Consumers who are experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention.

Since March 1, 2010, a total of 22 cases of Salmonella Newport infections have been confirmed in Arizona (1), California (11), Colorado (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (1), Missouri (1), New Mexico (1), Nevada (2), Oregon (1), and Wisconsin (2). Six of the cases have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The FDA said it is investigating the outbreak in cooperation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health, and public health agencies in other affected states. The FDA, along with the California Department of Public Health, is inspecting the firm’s facility and collecting samples. Caldwell Fresh Foods is cooperating in the investigation and has recalled all of its alfalfa sprouts from commerce, the agency said.

All consumers and restaurant/delicatessen operators should immediately stop using Caldwell Fresh Foods raw alfalfa sprouts. The FDA also reminds consumers that children, the elderly, pregnant women and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish and mung bean sprouts). More information for consumers about avoiding the risks associated with eating sprouts is available here.

In addition to one confirmed case in Tennessee, E. coli O145 has been reported in Ohio (8 confirmed and 1 probable), New York (4 confirmed and 3 probable) and Michigan (10 confirmed and 3 probable). All of those sickened became ill before late April.

Twelve people have been hospitalized, three with a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic-uremic syndrome, or HUS. No deaths have been reported.

E. coli O145 is a rare strain of the disease that is difficult to diagnose. Because it is more difficult to identify, the disease often goes unreported. Symptoms may range from none to mild diarrhea to severe complications. The acute symptoms include severe abdominal cramps and diarrhea, which may be bloody. Patients may progress to serious complications, such as kidney damage.

Anyone who has experienced such symptoms following ingestion of romaine lettuce products should contact their health care provider immediately.

Last week, Freshway Foods voluntarily recalled certain romaine lettuce products because of the possible connection to the E. coli O145 outbreak. On Monday, Vaughn Foods of Moore, Oklahoma also issued a recall of shredded romaine lettuce supplied by California-based Andrew Smith Co.

Andrew Smith Co. would not say if they supplied romaine lettuce to Freshway Foods. However, it did supply the product to a Massachusetts distributer. The company did not identify that distributor because the lettuce is already past its expiration date.

Most of the lettuce involved in these recalls was sold to food service establishments. The recall does not affect bagged lettuce in the grocery store.

The Food & Drug Administration is investigating a Yuma, Arizona farm where the romaine lettuce was harvested and is attempting to determine the point in the supply chain where the contamination occurred. The agency declined to identify the farm.

Because it is more difficult to identify, the disease often goes unreported. Symptoms may range from none to mild diarrhea to severe complications.The acute symptoms include severe abdominal cramps and diarrhea, which may be bloody. Patients may progress to serious complications, such as kidney damage. Anyone who has experienced the symptoms following ingestion of romaine lettuce products should contact their health care provider immediately.

To date, there have been 19 confirmed and additional unconfirmed cases of E. coli O145 infections in Michigan, Ohio, and New York. These illnesses include 12 individuals who have been hospitalized, and three with a potentially life threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a serious condition in which the body’s blood-clotting mechanisms are altered, causing blocked circulation or bleeding in the brain or kidneys.

According to a statement from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the outbreak strain of E. coli O145 was detected by the New York State Public Health Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, in Albany, in an unopened bag of shredded romaine lettuce distributed by Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio.

The FDA said it is investigating the Yuma farm where the romaine lettuce was harvested and is attempting to determine the point in the supply chain where the contamination occurred. The agency declined to identify the farm.

Last week, Freshway Foods voluntarily recalled certain romaine lettuce products because of the possible connection to the E. coli O145 food borne illness outbreak. The recalled shredded romaine lettuce had “best if used by” dates of May 12 or earlier. The products were sold under the Freshway brand and Imperial Sysco brand to wholesalers in Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The recalled romaine products were also sold for distribution to in-store salad bars and delis for Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets, and Marsh stores in the states listed.

Yesterday, the FDA announced that a food distributor in Moore, Okla., was recalling romaine lettuce that came from the same farm in Yuma, Ariz. California-based Andrew Smith Co. said Monday it is recalling lettuce sold to Vaughn Foods in Moore, Okla., and to a distributor in Massachusetts.

The “use by” date of the lettuce sold to Vaughn Foods is May 9 or 10, according to the FDA. The FDA said lettuce distributed by the company was sold to restaurants and food service facilities and were not available for purchase at retail establishments by consumers. Andrew Smith Co. buys bulk romaine lettuce from farms and sells it to distributors. Those distributors, such as Freshway Foods and Vaughn Foods, then sell it to food service outlets or retail customers.

According to the agency, most of the lettuce recalled was sold to food service establishments. The recall does not affect bagged lettuce in the grocery store.

A just-released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report says that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to increase its focus on safety for some specific food ingredients, especially following the broad recall of potentially Salmonella-contaminated hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), said the Associated Press.

The report noted that some ingredients, including spices and artificial flavors—are not subject to ongoing and routine FDA safety reviews because the products are, said the AP, believed to be "generally recognized as safe." Also according to the GAO, the agency is not doing all it could and it should mandate companies that manufacture or use these products to provide the government with better information, said the AP.

Salt, trans fats, spices, artificial flavorings, emulsifiers, binders, vitamins, minerals, and preservatives, said the AP, which are “generally recognized as safe” and which are used to improve the food taste, consistency, longevity, and nutritional content. The agency agreed—"agrees broadly," as a matter-of-fact—that its oversight could be better, according to a statement issued by FDA spokeswoman Rita Chappelle Friday.

Meanwhile, the HVP recall is expected to expand beyond the over 50 products recalled thus far, said the AP. Included in the recalls are “four dip, gravy, and stuffing mixes” that are manufactured by McCormick & Company, added the AP.

Most recently we wrote that the FDA announced—in part responding to the GAO investigation—that it plans on stepping up its prosecutions of pharmaceutical and food industry executives as part of its work to revamp the agency’s criminal division said the Wall Street Journal. In addition to being condemned in a government report, the division was derided by Congress, added the Journal.

The FDA recently wrote to Senator Chuck Grassley (Republican-Iowa), saying that an internal committee recommended that the agency and its Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) “increase the appropriate use of misdemeanor prosecutions, which allows responsible corporate officials to be held accountable and is a valuable enforcement tool,” quoted the Journal. According to the FDA, it has authority to “prosecute corporate executives for criminal actions” under a provision entitled “strict liability.” Although not enacted to a great extent in recent years, the FDA spokesman said that the government is not required to prove intent to defraud in order to convict.

The GAO report said the OCI has operated relatively separate from the FDA with no minimal accountability and no requirement to explain its investigations or use of funds, explained the Journal. The GAO is a so-called “watchdog arm” of Congress.

According to FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, said Thompson Publications, the misdemeanor prosecutions are “a valuable enforcement tool” and the agency came up with criteria for consideration in its choice of misdemeanor prosecution cases. Dr. Hamburg added that, the criteria “will be incorporated into the revised policies and procedures that cover appropriate use of misdemeanor prosecutions,” quoted Thompson. Dr. Hamburg also told Grassley, in a letter, that the agency “is developing meaningful performance measures for OCI, as part of an agency-wide initiative,” adding that it is also “implementing other significant efforts” to address the issues identified by the GAO, reported Thompson.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), E. coli is one of the leading causes of food borne illness in the U.S.  E. coli O157:H7 is a particularly virulent strain that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors, and persons with weak immune systems, for instance, people undergoing chemotherapy or who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS are the most susceptible to food borne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

The products subject to this recall were produced on February 25, 2010, and were distributed to federal establishments for further processing in Illinois, Missouri., New York, Ohio, and Virginia. None of these products are available directly to consumers.

 According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the beef products involved in this recall include:

• Combo bin packages of “Randolph Packing Co., Inc. BONELESS BEEF.”
• Combo bin packages of “Randolph Packing Co. Knuckles 90% & 94%.”
• 30 lbs. boxes of “Beef Ribeye Rolls.”

Each package label bears the establishment number “EST. 6590″ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Huntington Meat Packing recalled more than 800,000 of beef last month because of concerns the products might be tainted with E. coli.  According to FSIS, the evidence from the ongoing criminal investigation shows that the products were produced in a manner that did not follow Huntington Meat Packing’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan. Therefore, FSIS must consider the products to be adulterated and has acted to remove the products from commerce.

The  beef and veal products were produced by the Huntington Meat Packing  from January 22, 2009, to January 4, 2010.  A list of the recalled products are available here.

According to FSIS, there have been no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these recalled beef and veal products. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician, the agency said.

Salmonella can affect both humans and animals. People handling dry pet food and/or pet treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the treats or any surfaces exposed to these products. 

According to the recall notice, the recalled products are limited to the Nature’s Variety Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet packaged in the following forms:

• 3 lb chicken medallions (UPC# 7 69949 60130 2) with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/0/10

• 6 lb chicken patties (UPC# 7 69949 60120 3) with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10

• 2 lb chicken chubs (UPC# 7 69949 60121 0) with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10

The “Best If Used By” date is located on the back of the package above the safe handling instructions. The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the United States, and in limited distribution in Canada.

Consumers with additional questions can call the Nature’s Variety Customer Care line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-374-3142, or they can email the company by visiting by visiting naturesvariety.com.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician. So far, there have been no reports of illnesses associated with consumption the West Missouri Beef recall.

• One combo bin containing approximately 2,000 pounds of fresh boneless beef identified as “75 1-M,” produced on October 26, 2009.

• One combo bin containing approximately 2,000 pounds of fresh boneless beef identified as “90 3-D,” produced on November 25, 2009.

• One combo bin containing approximately 2,000 pounds of fresh boneless beef identified as “90 5-D,” produced on November 27, 2009.

• Combo bins containing approximately 2,000 pounds of fresh boneless beef identified as “90 2-P,” “90 2-R” or “90 2-V,” produced on December 8, 2009.

• One combo bin containing approximately 2,000 pounds of fresh boneless beef identified as “90 3-E,” produced on January 13, 2010.

Each container is marked with the establishment number “EST. 5821″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. The fresh boneless beef products were distributed to wholesalers in the Chicago, Ill., area.

According to a statement posted on its Web site yesterday, tests of the black pepper it used have confirmed the presence of Salmonella. According to the company, this finding indicates that Salmonella contamination of its products occurred after processing. Daniele did not identify the company that produced the pepper, but said it has changed suppliers.

Over the weekend, Daniele International recalled 1.24 million pounds of ready-to-eat Italian sausage products because of concerns they had some association with the outbreak. Yesterday we reported that DNA fingerprinting conducted by the University of Iowa’s Hygienic Laboratory confirmed that Salmonella from a sample of leftover Daniele International sausage found in one victim’s home matched the same strain as the national outbreak. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said 13 ill persons have been identified who purchased the same type of sliced salami variety pack manufactured by Daniele at different grocery store locations before becoming ill.

According to the CDC, this Salmonella outbreak began in July, and has so far sickened more than 180 people in 40 states. Out of 134 cases with available information 37 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Over the weekend, Daniele International recalled 1.24 million pounds of ready-to-eat Italian sausage products because of concerns they were linked to a multi-state Salmonella outbreak. Yesterday, DNA fingerprinting conducted by the University of Iowa’s Hygienic Laboratory confirmed that Salmonella from a sample of leftover Daniele International sausage found in one victim’s home matched the same strain as the national outbreak. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said 13 ill persons have been identified who purchased the same type of sliced salami variety pack manufactured by Daniele at different grocery store locations before becoming ill.

According to a lawsuit filed by Jason and Molly Keppler, they purchased salami made by Daniele International on New Year’s Eve. After Molly ate some of the salami, both she and their 3-month-old son became. His mother recovered quickly, but the infant was hospitalized for the a 104 fever and bloody diarrhea that persisted for several days. The child’s illness was confirmed to be Salmonella, and he is still recovering.

The Keppler’s lawsuit, which was filed in Cook County Circuit Court, is seeking unspecified damages.

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food borne illness outbreaks. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

According to the CDC, this Salmonella outbreak began in July, and has so far sickened more than 180 people in 40 states. Out of 134 cases with available information 37 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Over the weekend, Daniele International recalled 1.24 million pounds of ready-to-eat Italian sausage products because of concerns they were linked to the outbreak. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Salmonella outbreak began in July, and has so far sickened more than 180 people. Out of 133 cases with available information, about a quarter were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

A connection between the sausage products and the outbreak has not yet been confirmed, but at least 11 of the victims in the outbreak reported eating salami products from the “Daniele Italian Brand Gourmet Pack.” The strain of Salmonella – Montevideo – involved in the outbreak has not been found in any Daniele product, but a sample of product found in commerce was tested and found to contain what appears to be a different strain of Salmonella.

All of the products recalled over the weekend were made with black pepper, which Daniele believes may be the source of the Salmonella contamination. Salmonella has in the past been found in black pepper, white pepper, red pepper, and paprika. It’s also been found in other dry spices.  Black pepper is regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and the agency  said it is working closely with Daniele and other public health entities to determine if it is the possible source of contamination. To date there have been no reports of illness associated with black pepper found in other products in the U.S.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

The recall is the result of an investigation of a Salmonella outbreak that began in July. So far it has sickened 184 people in 38 states, leading to at least 35 hospitalizations but no deaths. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS), during the investigation of the outbreak, a sample of product found in commerce was tested on behalf of a participating state department of health and found to contain what appears to be a different strain of Salmonella. FSIS has a zero tolerance for in ready to eat products. While the strain of Salmonella – Montevideo – involved in the outbreak has not been found in any Daniele product, 11 people who recently ate “Daniele Italian Brand Gourmet Pack” were infected.

According to the FSIS, all of the recalled products were made with black pepper, which Daniele believes may be the source of the Salmonella contamination.

A complete list of the sausage products involved in this recall can be found here.

Listeria monocytogenes bacteria is 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 Listeria monocytogenes bacteria often experience fever, severe headaches, stiffness, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can result in miscarriage or stillbirth among pregnant women.

The Wisconsin Cheeseman products included in this recall are:

• Sausage ‘N Cheese Logs – Gift #11
• Cheese Logs & Cutting Board – Gift #87
• Smorgasbord – Gift #325
• Cheese Log Trio – Gift #365
• Cheese Logs – Gift #411
• Cheese Ball Trio – Gift #441
• Cheese Logs – Gift #509
• Snacker Pack – Gift #751
• Cheese Balls & Sausages – Gift #876

Consumers who have these products in their possession should not consume them. Product should be returned to The Wisconsin Cheeseman for a refund or replacement. Consumers who believe they may have become ill after consuming these products should contact their health care provider. The Wisconsin Cheeseman® has not received any complaints or reports of illness associated with these products.

The problem was discovered during a Food Safety Assessment (FSA) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The FSA led to the determination that a further investigation of establishment records was warranted. The investigation is ongoing.

The following products, consisting of all ground beef products produced by the plant from January 5, 2010 to January 15, 2010, are subject to recall:

• 40 lb. boxes of “Huntington Meats Ground Beef”

• 40 lb. boxes of “HUNTINGTON MEAT PKG. INC. BEEF GROUND FOR FURTHER PROCESSING”

• 40 lb. boxes of “BEEF BURRITO FILLING MIX”

• 10 lb. boxes of “IMPERIAL MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF PATTY”

• 20 lb. boxes of “IMPERIAL MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF PATTY”

• 10 lb. boxes of “El Rancho MEAT & PROVISION ALL BEEF PATTIES”

Each box bears the establishment number “EST. 17967″ inside the USDA mark of inspection on a label. The products were produced between January 5, 2010, and January 15, 2010, and were shipped to distribution centers, restaurants, and hotels within the State of California.

Also included in the recall are these products produced from February 19, 2008 to May 15, 2008:

• 40 lb. boxes of “Huntington Meats Ground Beef”

• 40 lb. boxes of ” HUNTINGTON MEAT PKG. INC. BEEF GROUND FOR FURTHER PROCESSING”

• 40 lb. boxes of “BEEF BURRITO FILLING MIX”

• 10 lb. boxes of “IMPERIAL MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF PATTY”

• 20 lb. boxes of “IMPERIAL MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF PATTY”

• 10 lb. boxes of “El Rancho MEAT & PROVISION ALL BEEF PATTIES”

Each box bears the establishment number “EST. 17967″ inside the USDA mark of inspection on a label. The products were produced between February 19, 2008, and May 15, 2008, and were shipped to distribution centers, restaurants, and hotels within the State of California.

While these products are normally used fresh, the establishment is taking this action out of concern that some product may still be frozen and in commerce.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

The Danville plant stopped production because of the outbreak, and on the advice of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Nestle purchased new supplies of flour, eggs and margarine. The company also began testing all the ingredients entering its Danville plant. Production at Danville resumed July 7, and the product was returned to store shelves in late August. The new Nestle cookie dough bore a “New Batch” label and a prominent warning against eating it raw.

Following the recent discovery of E. coli in two samples of dough made at Danville, the factory will be shut down for two weeks while Nestle modifies its recipe and production process. When the Nestle factory reopens, the company will begin using flour that has been heated to kill E. coli and other pathogens.

Nestle is not issuing a recall this time, saying that none of the tainted dough was ever shiped from the plant.  The E. coli tainted dough, all the dough made since, and any product made the day prior to its discovery, is slated to be destroyed. The FDA is now working with Nestle to try to find the source of this latest E. coli contamination.

Nestle did reiterate its warning to consumers not eat raw Toll House dough, and said it should be baked before it is eaten.

Roughly 1 in 6 Americans Suffer From Foodborne Illnesses Each Year

Salmonella, e. coli and listeria are among the pathogens that can contaminate food, leaving the people who consume it sick – sometimes seriously, suffering from a severe illness that can include long-term health consequences. A serious bout of food poisoning can also leave a victim with significant medical expenses, lost wages and other problems.

Food poisoning causes about 48 million people to get sick, 128,000 hospitalizations, and up to 3,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Salmonella alone, one of the most common forms of food poisoning, accounts for medical costs and lost work time of about $1 billion.

Everything from tainted lettuce, contaminated meat and even defective children's snack foods has been implicated in large-scale food poisoning outbreaks.

Contamination

Bacteria and viruses can contaminate food in many ways. Poor sanitation or preparation is a key way. For example, food handlers who do not wash their hands after using the bathroom or who have infections themselves can cause food-borne illnesses. Manufacturers that do not maintain sanitary conditions at factories or packing plants can cause food poisoning. Fruits and vegetables can become contaminated with bacteria while still in the fields as a result of exposure to animal waste. Improperly packaged food stored at the wrong temperature also promotes contamination.

Bacteria that Frequently Cause Food Poisoning

Bacteria are one of the most common causes of food borne illnesses, which each type offering its own host of adverse reactions and consequences. A wide range of tainted food can pose danger, including peanut butter, meat, seafood and lettuce. Salmonella – which is transmitted by undercooked foods, such as eggs, poultry, dairy products, and seafood – is a common type of food poisoning; it can cause a moderate illness with nausea, vomiting, cramps/diarrhea, and headaches, which may return a few weeks later in the form of arthritis (joint pains). Salmonella can, however, become a life-threatening malady for people with impaired immune systems (such as those with kidney disease or HIV/AIDS, as well as those on chemotherapy for cancer).

E. coli O157:H7 is one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Although most strains are harmless, this particular one infects about 73,000 and causes some 61 deaths in the United States each year. E. coli causes moderate to severe illness that begins as watery diarrhea, but progresses into bloody diarrhea. The more virulent E. coli O15:H7 can cause kidney failure and death (about 3-5% of all cases). It is transmitted by eating raw or undercooked hamburger, unpasteurized milk or juices, or contaminated well water.

Listeria is a bacterium found in soil, vegetation, raw milk, meat, poultry, cheeses (particularly the soft mould-ripened varieties) and salad vegetables. Listeria symptoms can vary from a mild flu-like illness to meningitis and septicemia. In pregnant women, Listeria can cause a miscarriage or the birth of an infected child, and even require an abortion. Other people at risk of a bad strain are those with compromised immune systems, including the very young and the very old.

Viruses that Cause Food Poisoning

Viruses are a major cause of food borne illnesses. In many instances, viruses contaminate food because food industry workers do not take precautions to insure a sanitary environment. One such virus that can be passed in this manner is the Norwalk Virus, which causes a mild illness that induces nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, headache, and low-grade fever. It is the most common viral cause of adult food poisoning and is transmitted from water, shellfish, and vegetables contaminated by feces, as well as from person to person.

Hepatitis A is another virus that can be transmitted via food. Hepatitis A causes mild illness with sudden onset of fever, loss of appetite, and feelings of tiredness; these usually are followed by jaundice, which is a yellowing of the eyes and skin. In extreme cases, Hepatitis A can cause one to need a liver transplant; it also can cause death. It is transmitted from person to person by fecal contamination of food. In the past, infected waiters have passed Hepatitis A on to restaurant patrons. The largest Hepatitis A outbreak in U.S. history occurred in 2005 at Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant in Pennsylvania. More than 500 people contracted Hepatitis A – three of whom died –after eating at the restaurant. The outbreak was linked to tainted green onions.

Rotavirus is another virus that can be passed through contaminated food. Rotavirus causes moderate to severe illness, with vomiting, followed by watery diarrhea and fever. It is the most common cause of food poisoning in infants and children and is transmitted from person to person by fecal contamination of food and shared play areas.

Food Poisoning can Have Long-Term Adverse Health Effects

A bout of food poisoning can cause serious long-term health problems; some victims will still be dealing with the consequences of food borne illnesses months and even years after the initial illness.

E. coli victims sometimes require kidney transplants. They may also have scarred intestines, which can cause lasting digestive difficulty. Even e. coli patients who supposedly recovered can eventually experience long-term health problems. About 10 percent of e. coli sufferers develop a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, where their kidneys and other organs fail.

Salmonella also has potential long-term health consequences. Some victims of Salmonella will develop a disease called Reiter's Syndrome, a difficult-to-treat form of reactive arthritis that causes severe joint pain, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination. Reiter's Syndrome can plague its victims for months or years, and can lead to chronic arthritis. Certain strains of shigella and yersinia bacteria, which are far more common abroad than in the U.S., can also trigger Reiter's Syndrome.

About 1 in 1,000 sufferers of campylobacter, a diarrhea-causing infection spread by raw poultry, develop the far more serious Guillain-Barre syndrome within a month or so. Their body attacks their nerves, causing paralysis that usually requires intensive care and a ventilator to breathe. It is estimated that about a third of the nation's Guillain-Barre cases have been linked to previous instances of campylobacter, even if the diarrhea was very mild, and they typically suffer a more severe case than patients who never had food poisoning.

Get Help from a Professional Food Attorney

If you think you or a loved one are eligible for a tainted food lawsuit, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by one of our qualified personal injury attorneys. The food poisoning attorneys at our firm are committed to helping victims of food borne illnesses receive the compensation they deserve.