Food borne illness risk has been very high
this week with several multi-state recalls initiated to contain potential E. coli
and Listeria bacterial contaminations of meat, sprouts, hummus, dips, and
walnuts.
by John
Tyburski
Copyright © Daily
Digest News, KPR Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
If nothing
else, this week has been a stern reminder that food-borne illness on a
population level is but a few tainted food items away. Not one, not two, but
several multi-state food product recalls were initiated to contain documented
or suspected pathogenic bacterial contamination. Included in the withdrawn
foods were nearly two million pounds of ground beef, fresh clover sprouts,
hummus, dips, and walnuts.
The U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that 1.8 million
pounds of ground beef products were recalled from stores in nine states because
of suspected contamination with Escherichia coli strain O157:H7.
The retailers affected include Gordon Food Service Marketplace stores in
Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee
and Wisconsin. Consumers are advised to discard or return meat that has the
code EST.2574B and that was produced between March 31 and April 18, 2014. The
meat originated from Wolverine Packing Co. in Detroit.
Meanwhile,
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported this week
seven confirmed and three suspected cases of E. coli infection linked to raw
clover sprouts marketed in Washington and Idaho. The recalled sprouts were
produced by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC of Idaho, according to the CDC. The
health departments of both states are advising residents to discard any sprouts
from Evergreen Fresh Sprouts.
In addition,
an estimated total of 14,860 pounds of hummus and dip products are being
voluntarily recalled by Lansal Inc. after suspicions of contamination with Listeria
moncytogenes bacteria. The hummus products were distributed under the
names Target Archer Farms and Giant Eagle to retailers Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland. Trader Joe’s 5 Layered Dip was recalled in
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
If those
were not enough, bulk and packaged walnuts distributed to retailers in Missouri
and Illinois by Sherman Produce were recalled. Again, the concern is with
possible Listeria bacteria contamination. Todate, no illnesses have been linked
to the hummus, dip, and walnut products that were recalled.
Escherichia
coli is a type of bacteria commonly found in intestines of animals and
humans. Most strains are harmless, but some can cause serious illness. The
strain found in the clover sprouts produces Shiga toxin. Symptoms include
severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Listeria-caused illness involves
more mild symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and headache. Listeria is of
greatest concern for pregnant women.
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