Food Poisoning Blog

A Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain has been implicated in a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella bacteria that’s sickened at least 68 people in 10 states.

According to a report posted at the National Restaurant News Web site, an unnamed Mexican-style fast food restaurant has been identified as the source of the outbreak but what exactly caused that outbreak remains unknown. Despite that major unknown, the outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis has been declared over and no longer a threat. …

A Maine food processing company destroyed its entire stock of cold smoked salmon it was storing at its facility because it and the facility were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

According to a press release, Mill Stream Corp., of Hancock, Maine, destroyed its supply of cold-smoked salmon under the supervision of the Food and Drug Administration. An FDA investigator recently visited the Mill Stream Corp. facility. Samples taken from the facility revealed the presence of Listeria bacteria in the food and on equipment used to process and pack it.

That inspection happened last month and upon the discovery of the bacteria, Mill Stream Corp. volunteered to destroy the product in question. If it had not volunteered to destroy the cold-smoked salmon, the FDA could have invoked its power of administrative detention of the product, which allows the agency to hold food it believes poses a public health threat for up to 30 days.

There have been no illnesses associated with the consumption of any cold-smoked salmon products distributed by Mill Stream Corp.

Listeria poisoning can be life-threatening. An outbreak of the bacteria in contaminated cantaloupe this past summer claimed 30 lives and sickened potentially hundreds more. Early symptoms of Listeria poisoning include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle and joint pain and dizziness. Symptoms are usually more severe among pregnant women, children and the elderly. Listeria poisoning has resulted in miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Jones Seasoning Blends has issued a recall on two of its products which may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

According to a release from the company, the recall includes its Jones’ Mock Salt Original and Jones’ Mock Salt Spicy Southwest Blend. The company said no illnesses have been associated with the consumption of its products. …

The Food and Drug Administration does not believe a widespread recall on orange juice is “warranted” after learning that one major producer found trace levels of a banned fungicide in samples of its product.

According to a Washington Post report, the FDA announced this week that a recall is not likely. Two weeks ago, Coca-Cola informed the agency that it found carbendazim in samples of its Minute Maid and Simply Orange brands of orange juice. Subsequent reports have also revealed that carbendazim has also been found by PepsiCo, the makers of Tropicana orange juice products. …

Grocery store chain Winn-Dixie has issued a recall on several varieties of sprouts it sells because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

According to a release from Winn-Dixie, the recall includes LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts. The Food and Drug Administration informed the retailer that sampling of this product determined it was contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. Due to that discovery, Winn-Dixie also announced it was recalling the following LEASA brand sprouts: Broccoli Sprouts, Gourmet Sprouts, Spicy Sprouts and Onion Sprouts.

The Broccoli Sprouts included in the recall were sold in 4-ounce packages. All other varieties were sold in 6-ounce packages. …

A California company has expanded a recall on its Cedar Tree Tresse Cheese and Cedar Tree Shinglish Cheese products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

According to a release from Kradjian Import Co., of Glendale, Calif., the expanded recall includes 231 cases of cheese. The cheese is imported from a Quebec, Canada, company, Fromagerie Marie Kade. The recall includes the following specific products: Cedar brand Shinglish firm unripened cheese, delivered before November 13, 2011 UPC: 78546 10000 and Cedar brand Tresse firm unripened cheese, delivered before November 13, 2011 UPC 78546 01000. …