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If you believe that you too have suffered injuries resulting from foodborne illnesses, please contact the Wallace Law Firm for a free case analysis. |
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© 2007, Lee Tarte Wallace
Salmonella Found in Banquet Pot Pies
Oct. 11, 2007
ConAgra Foods recently announced that it was recalling Banquet Turkey and Chicken Pot Pies.
The recalled products contain the number "P-9" printed on the side of the package. Consumers are encouraged to return the recalled products for a full refund by sending the side panel of the package that contains the code "P-9" to: ConAgra Foods, Dept. BQPP, P.O. Box 3768, Omaha, NE 68103. Another option is to bring back the recalled products to the store in which it was purchased for a full refund.
The recalled Pot Pies are also sold under the following generic brands: Hill County Fare (sold at HEB), Food Lion (sold at Food Lion), Great Value (sold at Wal-Mart), Kirkwood (sold at Aldi), Kroger (sold at Kroger), and Meijer (sold at Meijer).
Any questions regarding this recall should be directed to ConAgra Foods at 1-866-484-8671.
Salmonella Found in White Chocolate
Oct. 4, 2007
Kraft Foods announced Thursday it is recalling white chocolate distributed in the United States because of possible salmonella contamination.
Kraft said consumers who purchased its six ounce, Baker's Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares should immediately discard the product. The recalled product was distributed nationally, and have the UPC Code 0043000252200 and for best when used by March 31, April 1, April 2 and April 3, 2008.
The Food and Drug Administration detected the presence of salmonella in some packages of the white chocolate baking squares during tests, according to Kraft.
The recall is only for Baker's Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares. No other varieties of Baker's White Chocolate or any other Baker's products sold in the United States are affected by the recall, according to Kraft.
Consuming raw seafood can be deadly
Sept. 13, 2007
Delphine Barnes died after eating oysters at Spondivits Seafood and Steak Restaurant (219 Virginia Ave, Atlanta, GA). According to an investigation that was prepared by the Environmental Health Inspector, Spondivits Restaurant had repeated violations of the county’s health code. On August 23rd, the restaurant scored a 48 out of possible 100 on a health inspection. This inspection was done less than 2 weeks after Ms. Barnes’ death.
According to health inspectors, Spondivits’ was negligent in storing food at improper temperatures (some foods were stored at temperatures as high as 67 degrees). These improper temperatures encourage rapid bacteria growth, which can lead to foodborne illnesses. It was also determined that restaurant employees were not washing their hands with soap after touching raw food/seafood. Improper hand washing is another leading cause of spreading foodborne illnesses.
The family of Ms. Barnes has sued the restaurant in Fulton County State Court. If you believe that you too have suffered injuries resulting from foodborne illnesses, please contact the Wallace Law Firm for a free case analysis.
Listeria found in Ricotta Cheese
August 27, 2007
The Georgia State Department of Agriculture issued a press release today, reporting that it has found Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in a sample of Ricotta Salata cheese.
According to the press release, "The contamination was found in a package marked SELL BY 01/21/08. The brand name of the cheese is Locatelli and the importer is The Ambriola Company, Inc., of Jersey City, New Jersey 07305. The cheese is imported from Italy."
Listeria can be extremely dangerous and even deadly, particularly to fetuses, the very young or the very old, and people with weakened immune systems. For more on listeria, see our web page on listera.
Peanut Butter Recall Extended
March 12, 2007
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that ConAgra is extending the recall of Peter Pan peanut butter products back to October 2004.
"Consumers who have purchased any of the products since October 2004 should discard them. FDA's advice to consumers continues to be not to eat any Peter Pan peanut butter or any Great Value peanut butter beginning with the 2111 product code."
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS
Salmonella Confirmed in Peter Pan peanut butter
February 22, 2007
See our Salmonella web page
Public health officials in multiple states, with the assistance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are investigating a large multistate outbreak of Salmonella serotype Tennessee infections. An epidemiologic study comparing foods that ill and well persons said they ate showed that consumption of Peter Pan peanut butter and Great Value peanut butter were both statistically associated with illness and therefore the likely source of the outbreak. Product testing has confirmed the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Tennessee in opened jars of peanut butter, obtained from ill persons.
FDA has advised consumers not to eat any Peter Pan peanut butter purchased since May 2006 and not to eat Great Value peanut butter with a product code beginning with 2111 purchased since May 2006. Peter Pan peanut butter is made in a single facility in Georgia. Great Value peanut butter with a product code beginning with 2111 is made in the same facility as Peter Pan peanut butter; Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected.
As of February 21st at 12 PM EST, the last time when numbers were updated, 329 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Tennessee have been reported to CDC from 41 states. Among 249 patients for whom clinical information is available, 51 (21%) were hospitalized. No deaths have been attributed to this infection. Onset dates, which are known for 224 patients, ranged from August 1, 2006 to February 2, 2007, and 60% of these illnesses began after December 1, 2006.
Peter Pan Warning Widens
February 19, 2007
See our Salmonella web page
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has widened its warning about Peter Pan peanut butter. The FDA is saying that consumers should discard any Peter Pan peanut butter bought since May 2006, because it may be contaminated with salmonella.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 290 people from 39 states have become ill in the food poisoning outbreak, and 46 have been hospitalized.
The FDA has stated it is also concerned about possible contamination in Great Value peanut butter: "Although Great Value peanut butter with the specified product code has not been linked by CDC to the cases of Salmonella Tennessee infection, the product is manufactured in the same plant as Peter Pan peanut butter and, thus, is believed to be at similar risk of contamination." But the warning about Great Value peanut butter is more limited – consumers are only asked to discard jars with a product code beginning with "2111."
The 39 states that have reported illnesses are: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
CDC has identified the strain of bacteria as Salmonella Tennessee, one of many strains of salmonella bacteria.
http://www.conagrafoods.com/index.jsp
Salmonella in Peanut Butter
February 15, 2007
Also see our Bacterial Infection webpage
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan peanut butter or Great Value peanut butter due to risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee (a bacterium that causes foodborne illness). The affected jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter have a product code located on the lid of the jar that begins with the number "2111." Both the Peter Pan and Great Value brands are manufactured in a single facility in Georgia by ConAgra. Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected.
If consumers have any of this Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter in their home that has been purchased since May 2006, they should discard it.
Symptoms of foodborne illness caused by Salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In persons with poor underlying health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections. Individuals who have recently eaten Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. Any such illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities.
ConAgra is recalling all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 that already was distributed. The company also is destroying all affected products in their possession. The company will cease production until the exact cause of contamination can be identified and eliminated. ConAgra will advise consumers to destroy any Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code "2111" in their possession. To assist in this endeavor, FDA has sent investigators to ConAgra's processing plant in Sylvester, Georgia where the products are made to review records, collect product samples and conduct tests for Salmonella Tennessee.
http://www.conagrafoods.com/index.jsp
Listeria Hot Dog Recall
January 10, 2007
For a second time this week, the USDA-FSIS announced a recall of a meat product for possible contamination with Listeria Monocytogenes. According to the USDA-FSIS, Gold Star Sausage Co., Inc, a Denver, Colo., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 15,514 pounds of Maverick Ranch franks (hot dogs).
The following products are subject to recall:
- One-pound packages of "MAVERICK RANCH BEEF Package bears a "sell by" date of "2/14/07," "2/21/07" or "2/28/07."FRANKS (HOT DOGS), 6 SKINLESS FRANKS."
- One-pound packages of "MAVERICK RANCH BUFFALO FRANKS (HOT DOGS), 6 SKINLESS FRANKS." Each package bears a "sell by" date of "12/27/06," "1/3/07," "1/10/07," "2/14/07," "2/21/07" or "2/28/07."
- Five-pound packages of "BEEF FRANKS (HOT DOGS), PRODUCT CODE MF55-0606-15."
These products were packaged on "12/09/06." Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 1106" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The Maverick Ranch franks (hot dogs) were distributed to retail and institutional establishments in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah.
The incubation period for Listeria can be anywhere from 11-70 days. If you have eaten a recalled Maverick Ranch frank (hot dog), you should watch for symptoms of Listeria Monocytogenes including fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, headache, loss of balance and confusion.
USDA-FSIS Website
USDA-FSIS Recall Information
Whistleblower Update
January 4, 2007
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia announced that it nearly doubled its collections from civil and criminal debtors in fiscal year 2006. The department collected a total of $37.1 million dollars, including several large recoveries in whistleblower qui tam cases.
Civil cases accounted for $15.7 million of the total. According to a December 18, 2007, press release from the U.S. Attorney, "Large civil collections included recoveries from health care fraud actions against Life Care Centers of America, Inc. in the amount of $2.5 million; Piedmont Hospital in the amount to date of $3.9 million; and a nationwide investigation of Tenet Healthcare Corporation leading to a recovery to date of $3.5 million."
See the press release at the U.S. Department of Justice website.
Taco Bell E. coli Update
December 10, 2006
CDC is tracking an E. coli 0157 outbreak that appears linked to Taco Bell restaurants. Unconfirmed tests suggest that the E. coli may have been in green onions served at a number of Taco Bells. CDC has confirmed 63 cases of illness, 28 in New Jersey, 22 in New York, 9 in Pennsylvania, 2 in Delaware, and 1 in South Carolina and 1 in Utah. Of these confirmed cases, so far 11% have developed a very serious form of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome. State health departments are tracking hundreds more cases, however, which may turn out to be related.
Read more at:
CDC’s website
New York Times
CDC’s map of states where people with illnesses live
CDC’s map of states with Taco Bell restaurants where persons with confirmed cases have eaten
Whistleblower Update
November 21, 2006
The Justice Department announced that in Fiscal Year 2006, it recovered $ 3.1 billion stolen from the federal government by fraud. The amount set a new record, eclipsing the $2.2 billion recovered in FY 2003.
According to the Department’s press release, suits brought by whistle blowers under the False Claims Act's qui tam provisions accounted for $1.3 billion of the total. Health care fraud accounted for $2.2 billion, while defense procurement fraud accounted for $609 million. See the DOJ’s press release at http://www.usdoj.gov
© 2007, Lee Tarte Wallace
The contents of this page: (a) should not be considered or relied upon as legal, financial or other professional advice in any manner whatsoever, and (b) may be considered advertising under some state’s Bar Rules. Unless otherwise stated, no article or text at this Internet site is, has been, or will be updated or revised for accuracy as statutory or case law changes following the date of first publication. Always consult with your lawyer and/or your other professional advisors before acting.
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