Food Safety

Summer is the season for sizzling – steaks, chicken, ribs, veggie kabobs and much more. The Connecticut Department of Public Health reminds everyone that food safety is essential when grilling outdoors and offers tips to ensure that family barbecues and backyard picnics remain fun, healthy outings.

Buffalo SAV, Inc., a Buffalo, N.Y., establishment, is recalling approximately 208,768 pounds of frozen meat and poultry products because they contain an unapproved ingredient, Amaranth Red #2, that is declared on the label, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The provisional listing and certification of FD&C Red #2 (Amaranth Red #2) was terminated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration. Amaranth Red #2 is not approved for use in products sold in the United States.

The Allegheny County Health Department is offering food safety tips for July 4th cookouts and summer picnics.

“Don’t let carelessness spoil your food and your holiday, whether you’re eating in your own backyard or at a picnic away from home,” said County Health Director Dr. Bruce W. Dixon.

The key to preventing food poisoning is good personal hygiene, along with temperature control and adequate cooking of potentially hazardous foods, according to health officials.

Laxson Provision Company, a San Antonio, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 350 pounds of a cervelat sausage product that may be undercooked, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:

* 3 - 3.5-pound vacuum packed chubs of "Ready to Eat Laxson Quality Meat Products CERVELAT." Each label bears the lot number "8952" and the date of production "Produced June 0809" as well as the establishment number "EST-13342" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Now that summer is here, Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency would like to remind Canadians of steps they can take to protect themselves from food-borne illnesses: clean, separate, cook and chill.

As the temperature rises, so does the risk of food-borne illness. Hot, humid weather creates the perfect conditions for the rapid growth of bacteria. Summer also means more people are cooking outside without easy access to refrigeration and washing facilities to keep food safe.

Health Canada is advising Canadians against consuming large amounts of bitter apricot kernels or products containing these kernels because of the risk of cyanide poisoning. Bitter apricot kernels contain a natural substance that can release cyanide into the body after being consumed. This has resulted in at least one Canadian consumer having serious adverse reactions requiring hospitalization.

International Meat Co., Inc., a Chicago, Ill., establishment is recalling approximately 6,152 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall include:

* "5-pound, plastic lined boxes of "International Meat Co., PURVEYOR OF FINE MEATS TO HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS, BEEF PATTIES." Each box bears the establishment number "EST. 22080" inside the USDA mark of inspection and identifying package codes of "061709," "061809" or "061909."

FDA warns people of Nestle recall of Cookie Dough products. However, seems that Nestle has no understanding of priority when it comes to its recalls and consumer safety.

Today, because of E. coli O157:H7 worries, Nestle issues Cookie Dough product recall. FDA urges not to use these products. One would think that this is a serious public food safety hazard and would expect Nestle to put a warning information so its customers may see it on the front page. However, Nestle USA's front page is about Nestle that is a company of possibilities. No word about its recall.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7 (a bacterium that causes food borne illness).

The FDA advises that if consumers have any prepackaged, refrigerated Nestle Toll House cookie dough products in their home that they throw them away. Cooking the dough is not recommended because consumers might get the bacteria on their hands and on other cooking surfaces.

Poor egg handling practices in restaurants and takeaways could be putting UK consumers at risk, reveals a new report from the Health Protection Agency and LACORS (Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services).