CDC Report Ruffles Poultry Industry Feathers

June 15, 2009

The National Chicken Council (NCC) reacted harshly last Friday to CDC's report on Foodborne Disease Outbreaks that were recorded in 2006, claiming that the report presented "...a misleading picture of the safety of poultry."

According to CDC, 48 US states reported a total of 1,270 foodborne disease outbreaks in 2006. Eleven of the outbreaks were multistate, including the Salmonella outbreak that was caused by ConAgra's contaminated peanut butter.

The item that got the NCC's goat, though, was CDC's report of a Clostridium perfringens outbreak – traced to contaminated, baked chicken – that caused 741 illnesses in a prison population. The Council claims that the illnesses from this unusual outbreak skewed the apparent frequency of foodborne illnesses caused by contaminated poultry. Does the Chicken Council have a valid beef?

In 2006, poultry accounted for 21% of the reported cases of foodborne disease. Had the prison outbreak been excluded, the percentage would have fallen to 10.9%. Of course, a similar case would then have to be made for excluding the unprecedented – and equally large – peanut butter outbreak, which sickened 715 people. That outbreak swelled to fruits/nuts category to 1,021 cases, or 16% of the total.

Raw poultry has its contamination issues, notably, Salmonella and Campylobacter. But Clostridium perfringens isn't one of them. The NCC would have been wiser to point out that the prison outbreak likely had little or nothing to do with contaminated raw poultry. Rather, Clostridium perfringens outbreaks typically are caused by mishandling cooked foods – usually through poor temperature control during cooling, storage or display of the cooked foods.

As CDC makes clear in its report, it's the nature of the agency's foodborne disease surveillance process that the annual numbers are easily skewed by individual large outbreaks – whether due to contaminated dairy products, meats, produce or poultry.

Instead of taking potshots at the messenger, the National Chicken Council should help spread the food safety message.

Recall Roundup: April 5-15, 2009. Part 1

Here is the first of our "catch-up" lists of food safety recalls, product withdrawals and allergy alerts. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

Pistachio Product Recalls

• Albanese Confectionery Group, Inc. recalls shelled pistachios and Deluxe Mix nuts
  
• Azar Nut Company recalls raw shelled pistachios sold under the Azar, Baker's Select, Sysco, and Katy's Kitchen Brands
  
• Aurora Products, Inc. recalls certain pistachio products distributed throughout the United States and in Bermuda under the Aurora Natural brand, and several Private Label brands
  
• Bezzerides Co. recalls certain batches of Art’s California Pistachios
  
• Bremner Food Group (including Flavor House Products, Inc. and Nutcracker Brands, Inc.) recalls several brands of in-shell roasted and salted pistachios and dry roasted pistachio kernels
  
• Eastern Lamejun Bakers recalls certain packages of Pistachio Nuts California
  
• Everson Distributing Co., Inc. recalls Watta Munch Natural Pistachios 
  
• Flanigan Farms recalls Flanigan Farms branded pistachios 
  
• FreshDirect recalls all FreshDirect Salted and Unsalted Pistachios sold by FreshDirect on or after November 11, 2008
  
• Hines Nut Company recalls Roasted and Salted Inshell Pistachio Nuts
  
• House of Flavors Ice Cream Company recalls select ice cream products made with pistachio nuts
  
• Indian Groceries & Spices, Inc. recalls Raw Pistachio Kernels
  
• In-Room Plus, Inc.  and In-Room West, Inc. recall all in-shell roasted salted Pistachios and Pistachio Berry Granola
  
• Lake Champlain Chocolates (LCC) recalls all their products containing pistachios, manufactured after September 22, 2008 
  
• Nassau Candy recalls various pistachio products
  
• Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace stores in Michigan recall certain pistachio products
  
• Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. expanded its recall of pistachios to include all roasted shelled pistachios and roasted in-shell pistachios from its 2008 crop due to potential contamination with the Salmonella organism and is also recalling raw shelled pistachios from the 2008 crop that are not subsequently roasted prior to retail sale.
  
• TOP Food & Drug and Haggen Food & Pharmacy recall pistachio products
  
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced updates to Canadian pistachio recalls on April 7th, April 8th and April 9th. Some of the recalled products were imported from the United States, while others were manufactured in Canada using pistachios imported from the United States
  

Peanut Butter Outbreak Recalls

• Lamb's Markets recalls bulk peanuts and trail mixes 
  

United States

• Food Safety Recall: USDA provides list of retail consignees for recent recall of Ball Park Brand Beef Franks
  
• Food Safety Recall: EDS Wrap and Roll Foods LLC. recalls approximately 12,460 pounds of frozen chicken egg roll products because they contain black pepper spice products that may be linked to a multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis
  
• Food Safety Recall: Union International Food Co. expands its earlier recall of spices to include all types of dry spice products in 15-pound and smaller containers (boxes, plastic bags & wide mouth jars) and 30-pound boxes and smaller packages of crushed chili
  

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

• Pistachio Recall (Guam):  Two establishments on Guam have been asked by the Department of Public Health to remove Pistachio Nut Kernels, Planters Pecan Lovers Mix and Planters Pistachio Lovers Mix from the market
  

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.

• A&P
• Big Y® World Class Market®
  
• BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.
  
• Bloom
  
• Brookshire's
  
• Costco Wholesale Corporation (US stores)
  
• Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.
  
• EDEKA (Germany)
• Food City
  
• Food Lion
  
• Hannaford Brothers Co.
  
• Harris Teeter
  
• Harvey's Supermarket
  
• The Kroger Company*
  
• Price Chopper
  
• Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc.
  
• Sainsbury's
  
• ShopRite
  
• Target
  
• Tops Friendly Markets
  
• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  
• Wegmans
  
• Whole Foods Market
  
• Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
  

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the link on our sidebar.

Recall Roundup: March 30, 2009

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals and allergy alerts. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

Peanut Butter Outbreak Recalls

• Arya Ice Cream Dist. Co.
  

United States

• Food Safety Recall: The Kroger Co. recalls Private Selection® Shelled Pistachios due to possible Salmonella contamination (FDA release of earlier company recall notice)
  

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

• Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Kronfågel recalls all frozen chicken products after consumers report finding bits of glass in some packages
  

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

• Prohibited Ingredient (Singapore): Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority initiates recall of tea leaves products from Myanmar after detecting Auramine O, an industrial dye, in some products
  

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.

• A&P
• Big Y® World Class Market®
  
• BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.
  
• Bloom
  
• Brookshire's
  
• Costco Wholesale Corporation (US stores)
  
• Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.
  
• EDEKA (Germany)
• Food City
  
• Food Lion
  
• Hannaford Brothers Co.
  
• Harris Teeter
  
• Harvey's Supermarket
  
• The Kroger Company*
  
• Price Chopper
  
• Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc.
  
• Sainsbury's
  
• ShopRite
  
• Target
  
• Tops Friendly Markets
  
• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  
• Wegmans
  
• Whole Foods Market
  
• Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
  

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the link on our sidebar.

PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT: Contraband Chicken Sold in Ontario

March 7, 2009

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has posted the following Public Safety Alert issued yesterday by Toronto Police:

"The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of a quantity of stolen, repackaged and distributed boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2009, a tractor-trailer containing a large quantity of pre-packaged chicken was stolen in the Paris, Ontario area.

On Thursday, March 5, 2009, an investigation led to the discovery of the stolen cargo in an industrial building in the Kipling Avenue/Rexdale Boulevard area.

It is reported that:

a quantity of boneless, skinless chicken breasts had been opened, re-packaged and then sold to unknown customers,
this facility was not designed or maintained for this type of business,
it is unknown if the chicken was properly refrigerated, stored and packaged according to industry standards."

According to the CFIA Public Safety Notice, Toronto Police are asking the public to discard the contraband chicken and report the incident to police using one of the following alternatives:

• Telephone: 416-808-2373
  
• Crime Stoppers (anonymously): 416-222-TIPS (8477)
  
• Online: www.222tips.com
  
• Text message: Text TOR and the message to CRIMES (274637)
  

The contraband chicken represents a serious health hazard. It likely has not been maintained under proper conditions of refrigeration and sanitation. It may have been mishandled during repackaging. It might even have been deliberately adulterated. 

If you think that the boneless, skinless chicken in your possession may have come from this contraband shipment, please do not take any chances. Discard it immediately and contact the Toronto Police.

McCain Healthy Choice Apricot Chicken Recalled in Australia

March 4, 2009

McCain Food Pty Ltd has recalled a single production code of its Healthy Choice Apricot Chicken due to the presence of Bacillus cereus in the food, according to Product Recalls Australia.

The recalled item is described as follows:

• McCain Healthy Choice Apricot Chicken (350g; cardboard box outer with plastic tray inner): Best Before 24 Aug 2010
  

According to a news release issued by the company and reported by WA Today, the recalled cartons of Apricot Chicken were shipped by mistake from an independent distribution outlet before lab tests were undertaken. 

The recalled products were available for purchase at Woolworths and Safeway stores in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

Consumers should return the recalled item to their retailer for a refund.

Bits & Pieces: Barber Foods Recalls Frozen, Stuffed Chicken

January 25, 2009

Barber Foods (Portland, ME) announced on January 20th that the Company was recalling approximately 6,050 pounds of frozen, stuffed chicken products after learning that the food items may contain pieces of plastic. The problem was discovered as a result of a consumer complaint.

The following items were recalled by Barber:

• Market Day® Stuffed Chicken Breast Roast with Rib Meat, with Cranberry and Sage Stuffing (2.5-pound packages): Est. No. P-276, Product Code 1037, Cat. C, Date code 31881 (located at the top of the ingredient statement on the box).
  
• BARBER FOODS DISTINCTIONS Barber Carver with Cranberry and Sage Stuffing (10-pound cases): Est. No. P-276, Product Code 031484, Date code 31881 or 31882 (located on the top of the case)
  

The two recalled items were produced on November 13th. They were distributed by Market Day in the Midwest and Eastern United States, and by Barber Foods to institutional food service establishments and as samples nationwide.

As this is a Class II recall, USDA will not be posting a retail distribution list. Consumers can contact Market Day (1-877-632-7753) and Barber Foods (1-800-577-2595) directly to request more information.

Smoked Goose Recalled In Belgium

December 22, 2008

The Belgian Food Safety Agency (AFSCA) is advising the public that one production lot of Greußener brand Smoked Goose Filets (ready-to-eat) may be contaminated with Salmonella, and has been recalled.

The recall notice was issued as a result of an advisory received through Europe's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). Other countries, therefore, may also be involved.

The recalled item is described as:

Greußener brand Filets d'oie fumés, 80g: Lot No. L8329319, Expiration date 05 janvier 09

The smoked goose filets were sold through the Match, Cora and Nopri supermarket chains, in addition to other retail food stores.

AFSCA is urging customers not to consume this recalled item. It should be returned to the store where it was purchased.

Chicken Jerky Dog Treats: An FDA Update

December 19, 2008

Last week, we reported on a mysterious kidney ailment occurring in Australian dogs, which appeared to be linked to Kramar brand chicken jerky dog treats. Kramar announced a precautionary recall of the treats, even though no one has yet been able to determine the exact cause of the ailment.

The chicken jerky treats were manufactured in China.

In our report, we mentioned that a similar problem had arisen in the United States in 2007, and that FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine had issued a warning to pet owners. As in the Australian situation, the treats were imported from China, and the contaminant that triggered the kidney symptoms could not be found.

Today, the Center for Veterinary Medicine has issued a new Preliminary Animal Health Notification on this same problem. According to CVM, the agency has continued to receive complaints about pet illnesses linked to chicken jerky treats. Unfortunately, CVM appears to be no closer to solving the mystery. 

CVM has issued this new warning to alert pet owners who choose to give these treats to their dogs to watch for the development of any of the following symptoms, which may appear hours or days after a dog has eaten these treats. Small dogs appear to be especially susceptible.

• decreased appetite (dog may continue to eat the treat but refuse usual food)
  
• decreased activity level
  
• vomiting
  
• diarrhea - sometimes with blood
  
• increased water consumption and/or increased urination
  

A dog that displays any of these symptoms after having eaten chicken jerky treats should be seen by a veterinarian if the symptoms are severe or if they persist longer than 24 hours. 

FDA is continuing its investigation into possible chemical or microbiological contaminants in the chicken jerky treats. The agency urges dog owners and veterinarians to report any pet food- associated illnesses to the FDA Consumer Coordinator in their state.

Turkey Salami Recalled - Undeclared Salmonella

December 19, 2008

Aytac Halal Foods Ltd. has recalled a batch of pre-packaged, sliced turkey salami due to the presence of Salmonella in the ready-to-eat product, according to a Food Alert issued today by

the UK Food Standards Agency.

The Company has described the recalled item as follows:

Aytac Sliced Turkey Salami, 200g package: Use by date of 12 January 2009, Lot No. 330156

No other Aytac products are affected by this recall.

Consumers should check the in-store product recall notices to find out how to proceed in the event that they have purchased the recalled item.

Mariposa Meat Recall Expands: 3rd Time A Charm?

December 19, 2008

As we predicted yesterday, Mariposa Meats (Mississauga, ON) has expanded its recall of Old Style brand meat products to include all "Best Before" date codes of the following items:

• Smoked Pork Loin Chops, 175 g (UPC #6 28292 80045 2)
  
• Thin Sliced Chicken Breast, 350 g (UPC #6 28292 50002 4)
  
• Thin Sliced Honey Ham, 450 g (UPC #6 28292 50001 7)
  
• Thin Sliced Roast Beef, 375 g (UPC #6 28292 50003 1)
  
• Thin Sliced Pastrami, 375 g (UPC #6 28292 50004 8)
  
• Thin Sliced Summer Sausage, 350 g (UPC #6 28292 50006 2)
  

Mariposa has recalled these meat products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The meats were distributed only within the province of Ontario.

Listeria monocytogenes usually causes no more than mild gastrointestinal or flu-like symptoms in otherwise healthy adults. But it can produce severe – sometimes life-threatening – illnesses in the elderly, young children, and individuals with weakened immune systems. A pregnant woman who develop a Listeria monocytogenes infection is at risk of passing the infection along to her unborn child, resulting in premature delivery, stillbirth, or the birth of a seriously ill baby.

If you begin to experience symptoms consistent with Listeria monocytogenes infection, and believe that you may have consumed one of the recalled meats, seek immediate medical attention. Consumers should return recalled meat to the store for a refund.

Mariposa Recalls Additional Meat

December 18, 2008

Mariposa Meats, which recalled a single production batch of Old Style Pastrami a few days ago, has added two more products to its recall list, according to a Health Hazard Alert released last night by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The following items, which may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, are included in the latest recall:

• Smoked Pork Loin Chops, 175g: Best Before 09JA23, UPC 6 28292 80045 2
  
• Thin Sliced Chicken Breast, 350g: Best Before 09JA16, UPC 6 28292 50002 4
  

The recalled items were sold only in the province of Ontario.

The pastrami that was recalled over the weekend was identified as Best before 09JA15. All in, the three recalled items were processed during a 9-day period. There may be more recalls to come.

Anyone who purchased the recalled items should return them to the store for a refund. To obtain additional information on this recall, consumers should call Mariposa Meats directly at 905-855-8111.

Chicken Jerky Dog Treats Recalled In Australia

December 10, 2008

The Australian Veterinary Association has warned pet owners and veterinarians to watch for dogs exhibiting signs of acquired Fanconi-like syndrome after KraMar announced that it was withdrawing its Supa Naturals Chicken breasts strips from the Australian market. 

The dog treats were imported from China.

The withdrawal comes as a result of an unusually high number of dogs being reported as suffering from symptoms consistent with this relatively uncommon syndrome. University of Sydney researchers have pointed an epidemiological finger linking the problem to the consumption of the chicken treat.

While KraMar has withdrawn the implicated product, the company was careful to point out that there is no direct scientific evidence linking the chicken treats to the problem. KraMar routinely tests these products for the presence of melamine, Salmonella and E. coli.

Fanconi's syndrome, most often an inherited disease, is characterized by elevated levels of glucose in urine, but not in blood. The high glucose level is an indicator of damage to the kidney's ability to reabsorb nutrients and electrolytes back into the body. 

Non-hereditary Fanconi-like symptoms can be triggered – at least in humans – by a number of factors, including exposure to heavy metals or other chemicals, vitamin D deficiency, or multiple myeloma, among others. While the definition of a "heavy metal" is somewhat arbitrary, this category of chemical elements includes arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium and zinc.

The situation in Australia is eerily reminiscent of a similar incident that took place last year in the United States. In September 2007, FDA warned consumers that as many as 95 dogs might have been sickened – some fatally – as a result of having been fed chicken jerky treats imported from China. Extensive chemical and microbiological testing carried out by the agency failed to reveal anything unusual. At least some of the dogs exhibited symptoms consistent with Fanconi-like syndrome. But FDA never was able to tie down a cause for the illnesses.

KraMar has told ABC News that it is considering moving the production of their Supa Naturals Chicken treat to Australia. Meanwhile dog owners should be watchful for symptoms such as excessive drinking and urination, lethargy and vomiting, and should contact their veterinarian immediately should these symptoms appear.

For more information about the precautionary recall, consumers can contact KraMar by email at customerservice@kramar.com.au or by telephone at 02 4648 8500.

Salmonella Outbreak Grows - Still No Recall In Sight

Updated 6:00 pm, October 4, 2008

The USDA issued a Public Health Alert last night, advising consumers that "... there is an association between products such as chicken cordon blue and chicken breast kiev and 32 illnesses in Minnesota and 11 other states." The Alert does not identify the manufacturer or brand of chicken entrées.

This alert follows Minnesota's announcement yesterday that 14 residents of the state had been infected with Salmonella, and that the outbreak strain was isolated both from the victims and from samples of chicken cordon bleu and chicken kiev obtained from patients' homes and from grocery stores.

The outbreak has been traced to specific production batches of Milford Valley Farms brand raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned stuffed chicken entrées, produced in USDA Est. P-2375. The specific items mentioned in the Minnesota news release are:

• Chicken Cordon Bleu: Code dates C8121, C126, C8133
  
• Chicken Kiev: Code date C149
  

There has not been – nor will there be – a recall of these items, unless the manufacturer decides to initiate one voluntarily. As far as USDA is concerned, Salmonella is not an adulterant in raw poultry. Therefore, the agency will not request a recall. As far as USDA is concerned, it's up to the consumer to cook the entrée correctly.

According to the USDA Public Health Alert, most of the illnesses occurred as a result of consumers having cooked the entrées in a microwave, even though the package directions did not include a microwave cooking option. 

Minnesota has not mentioned the specific serotype of Salmonella that has sickened 14 residents of that state. But we've learned from a reliable source that the chicken outbreak is due to a subtype of Salmonella Typhimurium.

What will it take for the company to initiate a recall of its contaminated – not adulterated – entrées? We don't know, but let's hope that the threshold is lower than the 272 cases that triggered a recall of ConAgra's pot pies one year ago.

Salmonella Sickens Fourteen – "No Recall is Required"

The Minnesota Department of Health reported today that 14 cases of salmonellosis in the state have been traced to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrées. 

At least fourteen people in the state – adults and children – have become infected with the same strain of Salmonella since July. Six were hospitalized. The outbreak strain was also found in four packages of chicken entrées obtained from some of the patients' homes and from grocery stores.

The contaminated entrées – Chicken Cordon Bleu and Chicken Kiev – are products of  Milford Valley Farms, (USDA Est. P-2375), and are sold in supermarkets and grocery store chains. 

The implicated products are:

• Chicken Cordon Bleu: Code dates C8121, C126, C8133
  
• Chicken Kiev: Code date C149
  

This is the sixth time that Minnesota has experienced a Salmonella outbreak that was ultimately traced back to a raw poultry entrée in the last 10 years. One year ago, ConAgra (Marshall, MO) recalled "an undetermined amount" – all of its outstanding production  – of pot pies after they were implicated in a multi-state Salmonella outbreak. 

But there will be no recall as a result of this outbreak. As far as USDA regulations are concerned, raw poultry entrées that are contaminated with Salmonella are NOT adulterated and, therefore, are not subject to recall.

Last March, USDA issued a public health alert after two illnesses were traced by the state of Minnesota to raw, stuffed chicken entrées produced by Serenade Foods of Milford, Indiana. The entrées, which included Milford Valley Farms brand, were never recalled. Those entrées were produced in the same facility (USDA Est. P-2375) as the two items that are behind the most recent Salmonella outbreak.

Entrées that are pre-browned and ready to pop into the oven can give consumers a false sense of safety. They appear already cooked on the outside. As a result, consumers may think that a simple "reheating" is all that is necessary, regardless of the instructions on the outside of the package. Sometimes, as was the case in the ConAgra pot pie outbreak, the package instructions don't always result in thorough cooking, even when they are followed to the letter.

It is essential that any chicken dish – either home-made or a purchased entrée – be cooked to an internal temperature of 165ºF to ensure the destruction of any Salmonella that may be present. One cannot rely on cooking time. One cannot rely on the color or clarity of the meat or the juices.

Only your thermometer – and your gut – knows for sure.

Turkey Burritos Recalled In Chicago

Updated October 1, 2008

Food Evolution (Schiller Park, IL) has recalled 16 pounds of turkey burrito wraps after USDA reported finding Listeria monocytogenes in a sample.

The 13-ounce individually wrapped burritos were produced on September 24 and were distributed to retailers and institutions in the Chicago area. The packages carry a USDA inspection seal indicating establishment number P-34309.

While no illnesses have been reported, it's especially concerning that some of the burritos were distributed to institutions. As the recent outbreaks in Canada have reminded all of us vividly, residents of institutions such as nursing homes, seniors' residences, hospitals and assisted living facilities are especially at risk of developing a serious – even life-threatening – illness as a result of becoming infected with Listeria monocytogenes.

USDA has posted a list of retail locations and institutions that received the recalled burrito wraps. These locations include Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, IL and Saint Francis Hospital Resurrection in Evanston, IL. 

If you have purchased one of these burritos, please discard it or return it to the store. If you live in the Chicago area, have recently eaten a turkey burrito wrap, and begin to experience symptoms of listeriosis, please consult a medical practitioner immediately. 

For more information on this recall, please contact Bret Schultz of Food Evolution at (312) 671-2244.

UK Yuck Alert: Larvae in Chicken Breasts

The UK Food Standards Agency has alerted consumers that Netto Foodstores Ltd. has withdrawn from sale one batch of its Fresh Chicken Breast Filets due to the presence of larvae.

The 450g packages of fresh chicken are identified with a "Display until" date of 10 August 2008 and a "Use by" date of 11 August 2008. Consumers who have purchased the contaminated chicken breasts should contact the store for information on how to proceed.

USDA Announces Recall In Massachusetts

It's so nice to know that USDA is on top of things and taking care of our safety. With all of the recent reported illnesses tied – or suspected of being tied – to ground beef, USDA finally made a recall announcement this evening.

But it wasn't the recall most of us were expecting. Instead, the agency's Food Safety and Inspection Service advised consumers that World Class Canapes, Inc., a Massachusetts company, had recalled 285 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products after sampling by FSIS detected Listeria monocytogenes.

The canapes were produced on July 30th and distributed only within the state of Massachusetts. Consumers who purchased the recalled products should discard any unused portion of the food. For answers to any questions about the recall, contact the company's plant manager, Jim Palmariello, at (978) 253-6482.

Twice "Bitten"

Back in February, I was introduced to a New York Times recipe blog – "Bitten" – which is written by Mark Bittman. Much to my dismay, Bittman was recommending a recipe for Fast Roast Chicken that made no provision for confirming that the chicken was completely cooked through.

I wrote an article about that recipe, and also posted a comment on Bittman's blog site to air my concern. I never heard from Bittman, nor did he post any clarification of his cooking instructions subsequent to my article.

I had a similar experience last December with some Martha Stewart poultry recipes. While I never had a direct reply from anyone in her organization, I was delighted to see that her more recent poultry recipes gave specific instructions on testing the internal temperature of poultry to verify that it has been cooked throughout.

But I must report that yesterday's "Bitten" Recipe of the Day – while it sounds delicious – contains potentially fatal flaws.

1. The recipe calls for cooking the chicken "...in the least hot part of grill until chicken looks close to done."
2. The recipe then suggest setting the incompletely cooked chicken aside, if desired "...for a couple of hours..."
3. Next, the chicken is to be cooked until crisp on the hot side of the grill "...turning chicken until it is brown and crisp all over, 5 to 10 minutes."
4. Finally, Bittman suggests that the chicken be served "...hot, warm or at room temperature..."

This is a potential recipe for at least three different types of food-borne illness – Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens. Here's how these three pathogens could take advantage of Bittman's recipe to leave a sour aftertaste to any Fourth of July backyard party.

Salmonella
It's no secret that between a quarter and a half (depending on which survey you believe) of all the poultry sold at retail in the United States and Canada is contaminated with Salmonella. Both the USDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recommend that poultry be cooked throughout to an internal temperature of 165ºF. This is to ensure that any Salmonella present in the poultry has been killed.

It is very risky to cook a piece of poultry incompletely, then put it aside. Any Salmonella that survives the initial partial cooking can begin to recover and multiply in the incompletely cooked poultry. When the poultry is put back on the grill to "finish" the cooking, the internal temperature of the meat might not reach 165ºF. And serving the meat "warm" or at "room temperature" gives the surviving Salmonella a chance to multiply once again. Often, it takes only a few live cells to make someone ill.

Staphylococcus aureus
This food poisoning bacterium is found frequently on the people's hands and in their nostrils. Many strains of S. aureus produce a heat-stable toxin when they grow. If the microbe is transferred to the poultry while the food is being handled, the S. aureus will have a chance to begin multiplying during the time the partly-cooked chicken is set aside. Any toxin produced by the microbe will survive the final cooking on the hot part of the grill. Depending on how long the chicken is allowed to sit to one side while awaiting its final cooking, there could be enough toxin produced to make someone quite ill.

Clostridium perfringens
This microbe produces heat-resistant spores that can survive even a thorough cooking. Heat stimulates the spores to germinate, and the microbe can multiply while the food is set aside. If the final cooking is not sufficient to kill the bacteria that have multiplied but not yet produced spores, this microbe can grow to a population size that will produce illness.


Mark Bittman, it's time you thought through the possible consequences of some of your recipes.

Food Poisoning Around The World-Resuming The Tour

While US consumers have been consulting ever-changing lists of "safe" sources for tomatoes, the rest of the world has been coping with its normal diet – and its usual variety of food-borne diseases.

New Zealand
Poultry lovers in this country are breathing more easily this month. Cases of Campylobacter infections have dropped by more than one-third in the past year. Cross-contamination of food preparation areas with raw poultry, or eating undercooked poultry, are the most common causes of Campylobacter infection. The reduction in reported illnesses suggests that poultry producers in New Zealand might be starting to get a handle on the level of Campylobacter in their flocks.

Hong Kong
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is investigating three separate clusters of reported food poisoning, two of them apparently involving the same restaurant. In total, 17 people have fallen ill. The Wan Chai district restaurant that was responsible for two illnesses on June 9th and four on June 15th has been ordered closed for cleaning and disinfection.

CHP is also looking into another food poisoning outbreak, which sickened 10 primary school children in Hong Kong's Southern District. The four boys and six girls complained of abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever after eating lunch at the school.

Seremban, Malaysia
Eighty students at a local school were taken to hospital in the latest of a series of boarding school-related food poisoning outbreaks in this country. Although two of the students were admitted to hospital, none are in any danger. The school's dining hall remains open, but "under supervision.

Eastern Samar, Philippines
Foul-smelling meat felled 200 participants at a fiesta in Hernani town, Eastern Samar last week. Roughly 70% of the victims were children. Approximately 60 of the villagers, who complained of dizziness, abdominal pain, loose bowel movement, vomiting and body weakness, were treated in hospital and released.

Tokyo, Japan
Clostridium perfringens was blamed by Tokyo health officials for an outbreak of food poisoning that sickened 95 attendees at a training workshop held at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo. The victims fell ill after eating a bento lunch, which was offered on June 12th to workshop participants.

Nigeria
This country takes food poisoning seriously. Fifteen people were arrested following a rash of food poisonings that sent 68 people to hospital and killed two of them. The victims fell ill after eating food served at a ceremony. Some of the 15 detained individuals have since been released.

Jaipur, India
Participants in a religious festival in Jaipur had reason to regret their attendance last week. More than 100 people – most of them children – suffered food poisoning; 90 were hospitalized, and three were reported to be in critical condition. District health authorities are blaming spoiled rice for the outbreak.

Siberia, Russia
Forty-six children who were attending a kindergarten camp have been hospitalized as a result of infection with Yersinia enterocolitica. This pathogen is usually associated with consuming undercooked meat, or cross-contamination during food preparation. The camp is being investigated for possible unsanitary conditions. Due to the relatively long incubation period associated with this infection, health authorities are braced for additional cases.

Martha Stewart: Cooking With Fire

One of my pet peeves is the lack of attention paid by most celebrity chefs to the details of safe food preparation. In February, I commented on the food safety shortcomings of a recipe published by Mark Bittman of the New York Times in his blog, "Bitten". Blogger Doug Powell of Kansas State University has raised similar alarms about the on-air practices of celebrity chefs – most recently in a June 6th blog article.

Last December, I took Martha Stewart to task in an open letter over her inattention to safe cooking procedures for raw poultry, and for her use of raw eggs in an eggnog recipe. I emailed a copy of the letter to Martha Stewart Living, and had no response.

But today I am pleased to report that my message appears to have made an impact at Martha Stewart Living. The July/August 2008 edition of "Everyday Food" has incorporated safe grilling instructions into its recipes for turkey burgers and for marinated chicken breasts.

Specifically, on page 14 of the magazine, the recipe for "tex-mex turkey burgers with zucchini salad" includes the following directions:

"Cover and grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted in center of a burger reads 155º, 4 to 5 minutes per side."

"Top burgers with cheese. Cover and continue to grill until cheese has melted and internal temperature reaches 165º, 2 to 4 minutes more."

A recipe for "buttermilk and herb marinated chicken" in the same issue of the magazine instructs readers to:

"Grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of chicken registers 165º, 5 to 8 minutes per side."

It's nice to know that someone at Martha Stewart Living is paying attention to food safety.