Jalapeno Peppers recalled for health risk

South Florida Produce Jalapeno Peppers

On March 27, 2012, South Florida Produce, LLC recalled Jalapeno Peppers, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

The recalled Jalapeno Peppers were distributed to Distributors in Oxford, NC, Lake Worth, FL, Washington, DC, Pompano Beach, FL, Fair Lawn, NJ, Toronto, Ontario, Canada via customer truck between March 5 through March 7, 2012.

The product comes in bulk 1 1/9 bushel cartons marked with the lot #’s J000010995, J000010996, J000010997, J000010998, J000010999, J000011000, J000020135, J000020136, J000020137, J000020138, J000020139 and J000030053. These lots #’s appear on the pallet labels located on the front and back of each pallet. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Customers that have inventory with the above lot numbers are urged to destroy the product and contact Leslie DiStefano, Director of Sales & Food Safety at 954-459-0106 to verify receipt of this recall and destruction of the product. Please refer customer or consumer questions or concerns that you might have in regard to this recall to Leslie DiStefano at (954) 459-0106 during the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. This recall is being conducted with the knowledge and guidance of the FDA.

Chicken and Mushroom Pie Products recalled due to mislabeling and undeclared allergen

Piccadilly Fine Foods, a Santa Clara, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 775 pounds of chicken and mushroom pie products because they may contain an undeclared allergen, egg, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Egg is a known allergen, which may have not been declared on the label.

The following products are subject to recall: 12-lb. cases of “Piccadilly Fine Foods Chicken and Mushroom Pastie,” with each case containing 24 individual packages.

The individual packages weigh 8 ounces each and say “Keep Frozen” on the label. The label also bears the establishment number “P-9216” inside the mark of inspection. Listed on the cases and individual packages are lot codes 213-10 through 365-10 and 001-11 through 056-11.

The chicken and mushroom pies were produced on various dates between Aug. 1, 2010, and Feb. 25, 2011. Note that some products subject to recall during this time frame are correctly labeled in that they do include “egg” in the ingredient statement. The “Chicken and Mushroom Pasties” that do not list “egg” are subject to recall. The products were shipped to distributors in California, Colorado, Florida and Texas for further distribution to retail outlets.

Source: USDA

Cracker Barrel issues allergy alert

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. is recalling 5-ounce bags of chocolate-covered almonds and 5-ounce bags of chocolate double-dipped peanuts because the packaging is labeled incorrectly. The product labeled as containing chocolate-covered almonds may contain chocolate double-dipped peanuts and the product labeled as containing chocolate double-dipped peanuts may contain chocolate covered almonds. People who have an allergy or a severe sensitivity to peanuts or almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Products were available at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations in 41 states. Products were packaged in a clear 5-ounce polybag with a red and white diamond pattern on the label.

No illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported to date. No other candies or packaged food items are a part of this recall, and there is no health risk for consumers who are not allergic to peanuts or almonds.

The recall was initiated after the issue was reported by Cracker Barrel store management upon receipt of the product. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the supplier’s labeling and packaging processes. This labeling error was limited in scope and no other food products were involved.

Consumers who purchased these products are urged to return them to any Cracker Barrel location for a full refund. Consumers with questions about the recall should call Cracker Barrel at 800-333-9566.

Source: FDA

Sam Adams recalls some beer for possible presence of glass

During a routine bottle inspection at one of our breweries, we detected possible defects in a small percentage of bottles resulting in the random presence of bits of glass, most the size of grains of sand, but some small slivers in some bottles as well. Based on this sample, we quickly began testing bottles of Samuel Adams at all of our breweries and identified that the problem appeared to be isolated to a single glass plant of the five that supply us.

More here.

Malt-O-Meal recalls cereals for possible salmonella contamination

Malt-O-Meal announced on April 5, 2008 that it is voluntarily recalling its unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals produced with "Best If Used By" codes between April 8, 2008 (coded as "APR0808") and March 18, 2009 (coded as "MAR1809") because they may have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recalled product was distributed nationally, marketed under the Malt-O-Meal brand and as some private label brands including Acme, America's Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw's, ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality. A comprehensive listing of impacted products can be found at www.malt-o-meal.com/recallinfo.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this situation. All other Malt-O-Meal products are unaffected by this action and are safe for continued sale and consumption. The products affected by this recall represent less than one-half of one percent of the company's annual production of ready-to-eat cereal.

"Our first and highest priority is the safety of the consumers who use our products," said Malt-O-Meal President and CEO Chris Neugent. "It's important that we spread the word about this situation quickly and broadly in order to remove even the slightest possibility that someone will consume something harmful. We apologize for this situation and promise to do everything to complete the recall as quickly as possible."

The recall was initiated after the company's internal routine food safety testing detected the presence of Salmonella in a product produced on March 24, 2008. The company immediately commenced an investigation to determine the root cause of this one positive finding as well as the extent of any possible exposure. Initial results from this follow-up investigation indicate that additional product may have been exposed to this contaminant. Thus, out of an abundance of caution to protect consumers, the company has chosen to voluntarily remove all unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat products with "Best If Used By" codes between April 8, 2008 (coded as "APR0808") and March 18, 2009 (coded as "MAR1809"). Investigation into the source of the Salmonella has determined a root cause of this situation and corrective measures have been taken to ensure that there is no reoccurrence of this issue.

Persons infected with Salmonella may experience a variety of symptoms and illnesses. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, persons infected with Salmonella may experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in more severe illnesses, some potentially life threatening.

Consumers who have purchased any products covered by this recall are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-877-665-9331. Information regarding this recall, including images of the Malt-O-Meal product packaging, also will be posted to the company's website at www.malt-o-meal.com/recallinfo.

Source: The FDA

Organic pet food sales grow after pet deaths

The New York Times has a piece about the steady growth in this industry:

Pet Promise pledges its foods are made from “source-verified, natural ingredients.” Although a 25-pound bag of its dog food costs around $43, compared with around $24 for a 50-pound bag of the conventional stuff, sales rocketed by 300 percent at the height of the recall, says its co-founder, Dave Carter. But the company didn’t sustain those supercharged growth levels; for all of 2007, Pet Promise had high double-digit growth, which was in line with annual growth trends in previous years. After all, the natural and organic pet-food category has expanded at a steady clip for a while.... Yet the category remains a very thin slice of the pet-food business — probably less than 1 percent. Pet-food sales in grocery and mass-merchandise stores, which sell a lot of regular pet food, took a hit in the second quarter of 2007, according the Nielsen Company, but had rebounded by the end of the year.

California Department of Public Health Warns Consumers Not to Drink Metromint Flavored Water

December 5, 2007 -- Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), today warned consumers not to drink Metromint brand flavored water because it may be contaminated with a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, a microorganism that may cause vomiting or diarrhea. Soma Beverage Co., LLC., of San Francisco is voluntarily recalling all bottles of Metromint brand flavored water (Peppermint, Spearmint, Orangemint and Lemonmint) with a "Best Before" date prior to 2008/12/21 (Dec. 21, 2008) and produced at its California facility because they may be contaminated with Bacillus cereus. The "Best Before" date is on the shoulder of the bottle.

The product was distributed nationwide to grocery stores, including those in California, and sold on the Internet.

There have been no confirmed illnesses in California associated with this product to date. There is an illness complaint in Illinois that is possibly linked to consumption of this product.

The products were packaged in clear plastic 16.9-ounce bottles with a black M on the front and the lettering "KSA" in a rectangle located on back of the bottle in the lower right-hand corner.

The products were sold at the following locations in Northern California: Albertson's, Andronico's, Berkeley Bowl, BevMo!, Brown and Cole, Central Markets, Cost Plus World Market, Draeger's, Elephant Pharmacy, Fiesta Markets, Fred Meyer, Food Emporium, Haggen, Harmon's (UT), Lunardi's, Marlene's, Super Supplements, Mollie Stone's, New Seasons, PCC, Pharmaca, PW Markets, QFD, Rosauers, Safeway, Thriftway, Top Foods, Town and Country, Uwajimaya, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oaks Market, Yokes and Zupans.

In Southern California, the products are sold at AJ's Fine Foods, Albertson's, Baron's Markets, BevMo!, Bristol Farms, Clark's Nutrition, Cost Plus World Market, Erewhon Market, Fry's, Gelson's, Henry's, Jensen's, Jimbo's Naturally, Lazy Acres, Mother's Market, New Frontiers, One World Fine Foods, Organic To Go, Pacific Coast Greens, Pavillions, Pharmaca, Ralph's, Sprouts, Sunflower, Vitality Juice and Java Bar, Vons, Wally's Win and Spirits, Wild Oats Market and Whole Foods Market. Illness caused by Bacillus cereus may be either a vomiting or a diarrheal type. The vomiting type is characterized by nausea and vomiting within 30 minutes to six hours after consumption of contaminated foods. Duration of symptoms is generally less than 24 hours. The diarrheal type usually includes onset of abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea six to 15 hours after consumption of contaminated food. Symptoms may last for 24 to 48 hours.

Consumers in possession of the recalled product should discard it or return it to the point of purchase. Individuals who have become ill from drinking the product should contact their health care provider for evaluation.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (415) 979-0781, Ext. 101.

Harry & David recalls some chocolate because of undeclared nuts

From the FDA:

Harry & David Operations Corp., of Medford, Oregon, is voluntarily recalling approximately 5880 tubs of the Milk & Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate Macadamia because they may contain macadamia nuts not declared on the ingredient statement, and 4400 tubs of the Peanut Butter, Milk Chocolate, Macadamia Nut because they may contain macadamia nuts and peanuts not declared on the ingredient statement. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to these nuts (macadamia or peanut) run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The products are packaged in 1 lb. 10 oz clear plastic tubs containing three flavors of Moose Munch ® Confection, a caramel corn and chocolate confection.

Harry & David is recalling all Milk & Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate Macadamia with a nutrition label that states Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Dark Chocolate at the top. The potentially affected lot codes are lot codes 304 NXXX NN:NN, 305 NXXX NN:NN, 306 NXXX NN:NN or 307 NXXX NN:NN. In the lot number on the plastic tub, the X is a letter and N is a number.

Harry & David is recalling all Peanut Butter, Milk Chocolate, Macadamia Nut with a nutrition label that states Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Dark Chocolate at the top. The potentially affected lot codes begin with 264 NXXX NN:NN, 265 NXXX NN:NN or 266 NXXX NN:NN. In the lot number on the plastic tub, the X is a letter and N is a number.

The lot codes are ink jetted on the sides of the tubs in black ink.

The Milk & Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate Macadamia was produced from October 31 through November 3 rd, 2007, and was distributed exclusively throughout the United States in Harry and David Stores, beginning on November 9, 2007. The Peanut Butter, Milk Chocolate, Macadamia Nut was produced from September 21 st through September 23 rd, 2007, and was distributed exclusively throughout the United States in Harry and David Stores, beginning on October 10, 2007.

There have been no injuries reported to date. Anyone concerned about a potential illness associated with this product should contact a physician immediately. This problem occurred when tubs with nutrition labels for another product were used for these items.

Consumers with questions about the recalled product may phone the Customer Service division at 800- 233-1101 , 24 hours a day. Customers may arrange for refunds through this number as well.

Sweetwater Valley Farms recalls cheese

More cheese news from the FDA:

Sweetwater Valley Farms, Inc. of Philadelphia, TN is recalling Southern Cheddar Jack Volunteer Special Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Southern Cheddar Jack Volunteer Special Cheese, Lot Number 539 was distributed in 7, 10, 15 ounce, and 5 pound blocks and through retail stores in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, and Alabama. The product was also distributed to 48 contiguous states in gift baskets marketed by the firm’s website.

This product was distributed between September 19, 2006 and November 18, 2007.

No illnesses have been reported.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture which revealed that the finished product contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the distribution of this lot as the company continues their investigation as to what caused the problem

Consumers who have purchased lot number 539 of this product are urged discard it or ship it back to the company for a full refund. Contact the company’s consumer affairs department at 1-877-862-4332 for further information.

Jack Cheese recalled by Le Gourmet Connection

From the FDA:

Le Gourmet Connection of Lebanon, TN is recalling Jack Cheese, lot number 539, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Jack Cheese Lot Number 539 was distributed in 10 ounce blocks and through Jungle Jim’s, Fairfield , Ohio.

This product was distributed between August 28, 2007 and November 19, 2007.

No illnesses have been reported.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture which revealed that the finished product contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the distribution of this lot as the company continues their investigation as to what caused the problem.

Consumers who have purchased this product are urged to discard it and to contact the company at (615) 444-3500 for a full refund.

Is microwave popcorn safe?

From the AP:

The smell of buttery microwave popcorn can be intoxicating. But can it also be dangerous?

The question took on new significance recently when a doctor alerted federal regulatory agencies that a Colorado man who ate at least two bags every night for several years had "significant lung disease" similar to that seen in some microwave popcorn workers.

The illness - the first suspected case in a consumer - was linked to the man's habit of inhaling fumes from extra-buttery microwave popcorn, which contains the chemical diacetyl. The additive gives foods a buttery taste and has been linked to severe lung disease in some microwave popcorn and flavor plant workers.

Click here to read the rest.

Back to Basics Products Recalls Iced Tea Makers Due to Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: IT400 Iced Tea Makers

Units: About 10,000

Importer: Back to Basics Products LLC, of West Bend, Wis. and Bluffdale, Utah

Hazard: The iced tea maker’s components can fail, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: None.

Description: The recalled Iced Tea Maker (Model #IT400) is mostly white and has a 2.5 quart glass pitcher. The recall includes only those products with a date code of CA1307 or CA1307-A. The model number is embossed on the bottom of the unit, and the date code is printed on a small white sticker, which is also on the bottom of the unit.

Sold at: Bon-Ton department stores and hardware stores nationwide, the JCPenney catalog, and Internet retailers from April 2007 through July 2007 for between $40 and $50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using and unplug the recalled iced tea makers immediately and contact Back to Basics Products to receive a free replacement product or refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call the firm at (800) 874-4084 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday; visit the firm’s Web site at www.backtobasicsproducts.com; or e-mail the firm at IT400recall@btbproducts.com

Mojito Sauce recalled over salmonella concerns

From the FDA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- August 30, 2007 -- Stirrings LLC, of Fall River, Massachusetts is recalling its 3.5 oz packages of Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish (UPC# 80999 00046) with the best by codes 10/27/08, 10/30/08, 11/23/08, 12/01/08, 12/04/08 and 01/03/09 printed on the side of the tin. The recall may involve approximately 5,000 cases of its Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish supplied by Van de Vries Spice Corporation (formerly Atlantic Quality Spice) of Edison, NJ because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Although Stirrings LLC's tests of finished product samples were negative for the presence of Salmonella, parsley powder, one of several ingredients supplied by Van de Vries Spice, tested positive for Salmonella.

The presence of Salmonella 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 serious illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e. infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish was distributed nationwide through distributors, retail stores, internet sales and cocktail establishments.

Immediately after Van de Vries brought to Stirrings attention that a parsley powder used in a single lot of Mojito Rimmer product potentially could contain Salmonella based on FDA testing, Stirrings retained expert laboratories, primarily Shuster Laboratories of Canton, Massachusetts to test samples of its Mojito Rimmer product for Salmonella. Testing of 24 samples drawn from the Van de Vries lot of Mojito Rimmer failed to reveal the presence of Salmonella in the Mojito Rimmer product.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Stirrings CEO Paul Nardone explained, "We have removed parsley powder from our Rimmer Cocktail Garnish formula. This ingredient represents less than one half of one percent of the blend and was used primarily as a natural colorant." Nardone further stated, "We have initiated a recall as a precaution and assurance to our customers that we stand behind our product quality 100%."

Consumers who have purchased Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish with the best by codes noted above are asked to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the Company toll-free at 866-648-8239.

Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban recalled over botulism fears

From the FDA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Bayonne, NJ -- August 29, 2007 -- Everlasting Distributors, Inc. of Bayonne, NJ, is recalling its Blue Ocean Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban 8oz. packaged frozen products because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

Blue Ocean Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban was distributed in New York and New Jersey areas and it reached consumers through retail stores.

Blue Ocean Indian Sardine Tamban comes in an uncoded white styropor foam tray and vacuum packed with a clear plastic bag.

The potential for contamination was noted after routing testing.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Consumers who have purchased the Blue Ocean Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban 8oz. frozen product are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Everlasting Distributors, Inc. at (201) 823-0800.

Metz Fresh recalls spinach

From the FDA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Salinas, CA -- August 28, 2007 -- Metz Fresh, LLC is voluntarily recalling bagged spinach as a result of a positive test for Salmonella found during routine company testing.

The spinach is distributed under the label Metz Fresh, in both retail and food service packages. These include 10 and 16 oz bags as well as 4-2.5 lb. and 4 lb. cartons. The only Metz Fresh product affected is spinach that bears the tracking codes 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314. It was distributed in the continental United States and Canada.

There have been no reports of illness or problems related to this spinach.

Salmonella is a common food borne pathogen that can cause severe illnesses, including fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. While most individuals recover in three to five days without medical intervention, the infection can be life-threatening to young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Consumers with any of these symptoms should call their physician.

Consumers are advised to discard this product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact 831-386-1018.

"Nothing is more important to Metz Fresh than the safety of our consumers, period," said Andrew Cumming, President of Metz Fresh. "As soon as we learned of the presumptive positive test, we directed all customers to hold all boxes of the spinach affected as a precaution. Now, with this positive test confirmation, there is no question that we would recall and destroy all spinach bearing these three codes."

The positive test came during independent lab testing Metz Fresh conducts on all of its products. Through its labeling and numbering system, Metz Fresh has already tracked, located and put 'holds' on the vast majority of the cartons of spinach affected. That spinach will not be released into the marketplace.

While the positive test came from only one sample of many on three packing lines, Metz Fresh has, as a precaution, chosen to recall all of the spinach from the ‘field lot’ packed that day on all three lines.

Metz Fresh is keeping appropriate authorities updated on the status of the voluntary recall.

Allergy Alert in "Death By Chocolate" Cookies

From the FDA, an announcement of a recall of the most unfortunately named product I can think of, given the circumstances:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Atlanta, GA -- August 27, 2007 -- Bella Cucina of Atlanta, Georgia is recalling units of Death by Chocolate cookies if your bag does not correctly state that the product contains walnuts. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to Walnuts run the risk of serious or life threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Death by Chocolate cookies may have been sold directly to consumers in the following retail stores:

Store	Contact Information
Ballins, LTD	Wendy Legarde 550 Elmwood Park Blvd Suite B Harahan, LA 70123
At Home Store	At Home Store Rosie Witherspoon 52 N. Main St Fairfield, IA 52556
Perfect Package	Perfect Package Attn:Robin 263 Park Ave Worcester, MA 1609 USA
Lincoln Finishing Touches-NE	Lincoln Finishing Touches-NE Attn: Linda Spurrier 3945 S. 48t Lincoln, NE 68506 USA
Farm Fresh To You Store	Farm Fresh To You Store Freeman O Barsotti 1 Ferry Building Shop 9 San Francisco, CA 94105
The Fig Pantry	The Fig Pantry (bill) Attn: Jennifer 21800 Schellville Rd Suite C Sonoma, CA 95476 USA
Black Salt	Black Salt c/o:Scott Weinstein-Fish Marke 4883 MacArthur Blvd NW Washington, DC 20007
Great American	Great American Attn: Amy Hamilton-Hails 4121 16th Street N. St Petersberg, FL 33703
Kiawah Island Resort	Osprey Point Attn: Ashley Agapion Magee 700 Governors Dr. Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Trapp & Co	Trapp & Co. Attn: Helga/Steven 4110 Main Street Kansas City, MO 64111 US
Joli Home and Events	Joli Home & Events Cheryl Hunter 8B Market Beaufort, SC 29906
James Welch	James Welch James Welch 260 Balfour Drive Winter Park, FL 32792
Crabby Chic	Crabby Chic Attn: Pam Teebo 4407 Cascade Rd Wilmington, NC 28409
McArdles Forest and Garden Center	McArdle's Forest & Garden Ctr Attn :Sari 48 Arch Street Greenwich, CT 6830
BCAF Grand Central Station	Bella Cucina Artful Food - GCS 1870 Murphy Avenue Atlanta, GA 30310
Wines of Distinction, Inc.	Wines of Distinction, Inc. Attn: Katherine Rose 230 E Main St Abingdon, VA 24210 USA
Domaine Carneros	Domaine Carneros Attn:Rose 1240 Duhig Road Napa, CA 94559
Build a Basket	Build A Basket Attn: Mena F/Scott Maybaum 32 Rte 10 West East Hanover, NJ 07936 USA
Design Line Interiors	Design Line Interiors Attn:Connie 4863 Shawline Street Ste. E San Diego, CA 92111 USA
BCAF Virginia Highlands	BCAF-Virginia Highlands 1050 North Highland Avenue Atlanta, GA 30306
Nest	Nest Attn: Mary Matheson 4699 South Hollady Blvd Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Counrty Store - CA	Country Store -CA Attn:Carol L Holmes 2408 W. Adrian Street Newberry, CA 91320
Graeagle Gift Shop	NO CONTACT
Moravian Florist	Moravian Florist Attn: Sue Kirchhoffer 2286 Richmond Rd. Staten Island, NY 10306 USA
The Cheshire Cat	The Cheshire Cat Scott Comstock 34121 N. Rt 45 Grayslake, IL 60030
Kimball Shop	Kimball Shop Nancey Kimball 135 Main St. NE Harbor,ME 04662 USA
Sayville General Store Inc	Sayville General Store, Inc Attn: Jackie 44 Main Street Sayville, NY 11782
Chintz & Company	Chintz & Company Attn: Nicole de Goutiere 1720 Store St Victoria, BC V8W 1V5 Canada
English Green Interiors	English Green Interiors Attn: Deborah Green P. O BOx 2541 Cashiers, NC 28717
Bella Donna Designs	Bella Donna Designs Attn:Donna 131 Hurst Cir Franklin, NC 28734
Equipment Di Vin	Equipment Di Vin Cheryl Webster 1412 Larimer Street Denver, CO 80202
Celebrations - FL	Celebrations-FL Attn: Debbie 717 N. 12th Ave. Pensacola, FL 32501
French's Kitchen & Bath	French's Kitchen & Bath 202 5th St Hollister, CA 95023 USA
Fanciful Gift Baskets	Fanciful Gift Baskets Attn: Dave 5617 Melrose Los Angeles, CA 90038
Harris & Clark General Store	Harris & Clark General Store Anissa Harris 2539 Knox St Atlanta, Georgia 30317
Breckenridge Cheese and Chocolate	Breckenridge Cheese & Chocolate Attn: Anne P.O. Box 3771 Breckenridge, CO 80424 USA
Son of Moon Fine Foods	Son of the Moon Eva Bunnell 346 South Main St. Middletown, CT 06457 USA
Roche Bros Supermarket	Roche Bros. #101 165 Linden Street Wellesley Hill, MA 02481
Tenzie & Co	Tenzie & Co. 1116-A Coolidge Street Lafayette, LA 70503 USA
Pine Away	Pine Away 216 Main St. Annapolis, MD 21401 USA
Bee Entertaining	Bee Entertaining 124 S. Webster St Naperville, IL 60540 USA
The country Farmer	The Country Farmer 1 Bloomer Rd N. Salem, NY 10560

All stores have been notified of the incident.

The Death by Chocolate cookies in bags are in a 6oz. bag with a sleeve label. The UPC code for this product is 19193 00020. These cookies have a three month shelf life. The cookies being recalled were made on June 14, 2007 and also July 5, 2007 for a total of 36 cases, 12 units per case. The cookie ingredient list did not contain Walnuts.

No Illness have been reported to date.

Consumers should contact Bella Cucina directly at 678.539.8400 so we can refund or replace the cookie bag.

How much trans fat are you eating without realizing it?

Are there hidden trans fats in the snacks and other foods you're munching on?

Maybe, maybe not.

Federal regulations allow food labels to say there's zero grams of trans fat as long as there's less than half a gram per serving. And many packages contain more than what's considered one serving.

"The problem is that often people eat a lot more than one serving," said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of Harvard School of Public Health. "In fact, many people eat two to three servings at a time."

Those small amounts of trans fat can add up, said Michael Jacobson of the consumer advocacy Center for Science in the Public Interest. To find out if there might be some trans fat, he said shoppers can check the list of ingredients to see if partially hydrogenated oil -- the primary source of trans fat -- is included.

Read more here.

FDA Warns Against Red Yeast Rice Products Promoted on Internet as Treatments for High Cholesterol

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to buy or eat three red yeast rice products promoted and sold on Web sites. The products may contain an unauthorized drug that could be harmful to health. The products are promoted as dietary supplements for treating high cholesterol.

The potentially harmful products are: Red Yeast Rice and Red Yeast Rice/Policosonal Complex, sold by Swanson Healthcare Products, Inc. and manufactured by Nature’s Value Inc. and Kabco Inc., respectively; and Cholestrix, sold by Sunburst Biorganics. FDA testing revealed the products contain lovastatin, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Mevacor, a prescription drug approved for marketing in the United States as a treatment for high cholesterol.

“This risk is even more serious because consumers may not know the side effects associated with lovastatin and the fact that it can adversely interact with other medications," said Steven Galson, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

These red yeast rice products are a threat to health because the possibility exists that lovastatin can cause severe muscle problems leading to kidney impairment. This risk is greater in patients who take higher doses of lovastatin or who take lovastatin and other medicines that increase the risk of muscle adverse reactions. These medicines include the antidepressant nefazodone, certain antibiotics, drugs used to treat fungal infections and HIV infections, and other cholesterol-lowering medications.

FDA has issued warning letters advising Swanson and Sunburst Biorganics to stop promoting and selling the products. Companies that do not resolve violations in FDA warning letters risk enforcement actions, such as an injunction against continuing violations and a seizure of illegal products.

The FDA warning letters state that the products Red Yeast Rice, Red Yeast Rice/Policosonal Complex, and Cholestrix, sold on the firm’s websites, are unapproved new drugs that are marketed in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The warning letters are available on FDA’s Web site: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/wlcfm/recentfiles.cfm.

FDA advises consumers who use any red yeast rice product to consult their health care provider if they experience problems that may be due to the product.

Report adverse events related to these products to MedWatch, the FDA’s voluntary reporting program: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm; 800-332-1088; Fax: 800-332-0178; and MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20852-9787.

Consumers Warned Against Eating Raw Oysters Southern Tip of Hood Canal in Washington State

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers yesterday not to eat raw oysters harvested from an area of the southern tip of Hood Canal in Washington after an outbreak of illness caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria.

Symptoms of the illness, called vibriosis, include watery diarrhea, often with abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. Usually these symptoms occur within 24 hours of ingestion and last no more than three days. Severe disease is rare and occurs most commonly in people with weakened immune systems. Those who believe they have experienced these symptoms after consuming raw oysters should consult their health care provider and contact their local health department.

Raw oysters harvested from “growing area 6” in Hood Canal from July 3, 2007 and after, have caused at least six people to become ill in California and Washington. Additional reports of illness are being investigated by the states. To date, records indicate that raw oysters from the area were distributed to California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, New York, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada), Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The Washington State Department of Health has closed the growing area associated with the illness and has asked commercial oyster harvesters and dealers who obtained oysters from this area to recall them. Consumers who have recently purchased oysters should check with the place of purchase and ask if they were harvested from the affected growing area.

Those with weakened immune systems, including people affected by AIDS, chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach, or blood disorders, cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease should avoid eating raw oysters, regardless of where they are harvested.

FDA advises that consumers can continue to enjoy oysters in many cooked preparations by doing the following:

At Restaurants and other Foodservice Establishments:

* Order oysters fully cooked.

In the Shell:

* Purchase oysters with the shells closed.
* Throw away any oysters with shells already opened.
* Never allow raw seafood to come into contact with cooked food.
* Boil oysters until the shells open. Once shells open, boil for an additional three to five minutes.

To steam—add oysters to water that is already steaming and cook live oysters until the shells open, once open steam for another four to nine minutes.

* Use smaller pots to boil or steam oysters. Using larger pots, or cooking too many oysters at one time, may cause uneven heat distribution, which may cause the oysters in the middle to be under-cooked.
* Discard any oysters that do not open during cooking.

Shucked Oysters:

* Never allow raw seafood to come into contact with cooked food.
* Boil or simmer shucked oysters for at least three minutes or until the edges curl.
* Fry at 375 F for at least three minutes.
* Broil three inches from heat for three minutes.
* Bake at 450 F for 10 minutes.

New poll finds Americans extremely concerned about Chinese imports

The pollsters go to work:

The recent warnings and recalls about toxic toothpaste, tainted pet food, contaminated seafood and lead paint-laced toys from China haven't gone unnoticed by American consumers - the vast majority of Americans (82%) said they are concerned about purchasing goods from China in the wake of many media reports about faulty goods from that country, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.

The survey was conducted before the announcement of a massive recall of Chinese-made toys by Fisher-Price, but after a significant recall of Chinese-made railroad toys sold under the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway brand name. Both companies recalled the products because they contained excessive levels of lead on the toys and parts.

Notice that the survey was made before the Fisher-Price recall.