Food safety

No evidence to suggest general public or food supply at risk

December 3, 2007 -- The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is investigating a cluster of 11 cases of neurological illness in workers at Quality Pork Processors, Inc. (QPP) in Austin, Minn.    » read more »

La Villita Meat Market cited for failure to obtain proper certifications

November 20, 2007 -- AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today charged a Cameron County meat wholesaler with failing to obtain a “Grant of Inspection” from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). A “Grant of Inspection,” which is essentially a state license to operate as a meat wholesaler, is required under the Texas Meat and Poultry Inspection Act. According to court documents, the defendant also failed to obtain other legally required supplier certifications.    » read more »

Nov. 20, 2007 -- In order to assure a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday, the Arizona Department of Health Services advises the public to take several food safety precautions this holiday season.    » read more »

Would Strengthen Safety Net For Imported Food, Toys and Medicine

11/20/2007 -- Today in Shenandoah, IA, Hillary Clinton outlined her agenda to address the challenge of import safety for food, children’s products, and drugs and medical devices. She believes that it is simply unacceptable that in America in 2007, families worry about the safety of the food they put on their dinner tables or the medicines they buy, or that any parents fear for their child’s well-being every time they buy a toy.    » read more »

11/19/2007 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley reminds all North Carolinians to take extra care during the preparation of their Thanksgiving and other holiday celebrations to make sure food is kept safe while using as little water as possible during the ongoing drought.    » read more »

Safe food handling to make the holiday healthier and safer

November 16, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is promoting food safety tips to use when preparing a Thanksgiving meal to help protect you and your family against food-related illness. Following some simple guidelines can help ensure a safe meal.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., November 6, 2007 – The American Public Health Association today adopted 20 policies addressing a wide spectrum of public health issues from food safety and obesity to personal hygiene and global climate change.

The following are descriptions of some of the various measures approved by the Association’s Governing Council during its 135th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., Nov. 3–7. Full policies will be available online in January 2008.    » read more »

October 25, 2007 -- [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Senate Agriculture Committee included a major food safety provision in the 2007 Farm Bill. At Durbin’s urging, the Committee approved language the would require the creation of a Congressional Bipartisan Food Safety Commission, responsible for reviewing the nation’s food safety system and making recommendations on how best to modernize and update the current structure.    » read more »

Records Sought from NYC-Based Distributor

October 25, 2007 -- NEWARK – New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs investigators yesterday purchased recalled Topps frozen hamburgers in a Union City store and immediately issued a subpoena seeking information from the New York City-based distributor who sold the hamburgers to the store, New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Acting Consumer Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo announced.    » read more »

October 23, 2007 -- LANSING - The Michigan Department of Agriculture is reminding parents to trick-or-treat with food safety in mind this Halloween. Parents should follow these quick trick-or-treat tips:

* Tell children not to accept, and especially not eat, anything that isn't commercially wrapped.
* When children bring their treats home, discard any home-made candy or baked goods. Parents of young children should also remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.    » read more »

October 17, 2007 -- NEWARK – The voluntary recall of frozen beef products announced by the Topps Meat Company, L.L.C., includes some products bearing brand names other than Topps and consumers are urged to check whether they have any of the recalled products listed below.

The brand names on these recalled products include Shop Rite, Pathmark, Sam's Club, Kohler, Rastelli's, Roma, Sand Castle and Westside.    » read more »

October 11, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2007—ConAgra Foods, a Marshall, Mo., firm, is voluntarily recalling an undetermined amount of all varieties of frozen pot pie products in commerce that may be linked to an outbreak of salmonellosis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

Recall Release
FSIS-RC-044-2007
Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich

CLASS I RECALL—HEALTH RISK: HIGH    » read more »

ConAgra Foods voluntarily recalling all varieties of frozen pot pies

October 12, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD – Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois state public health director, is warning consumers today about frozen pot pies that could be linked to a multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis. ConAgra Foods is voluntarily recalling an undetermined amount of all varieties of frozen pot pie products they produce under multiple brand names, including chicken, turkey and beef.    » read more »

Consumers urged to discard product

October 9, 2007 -- Six cases of Salmonella infection in Minnesota residents have been linked to eating Banquet brand turkey or chicken pot pies, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said today. The finding prompted health and agriculture officials to warn consumers not to eat any Banquet brand pot pies. An investigation is ongoing.    » read more »

02 October 2007 -- Washington -- U.S. food import safety officials and the food industry are proposing to ramp up federal regulation of imported food and ingredients to address the risk that unsafe products could enter the United States.

U.S. agencies charged with overseeing food import safety are expected to forward to President Bush in November recommended actions that food producers, distributors, importers and regulators should take to strengthen food safety.    » read more »