Tag Archives: salmonella

Salmonella Warning Issued for Merrick Beef Filet Squares

Check your puppy’s snack cabinet: Merrick Beef Filet Squares have been recalled because they may be contaminated with salmonella. The recall was announced January 14th. Fortunately, no pet or human illnesses have been linked with the product. Instead, the possible contamination was found during a routine FDA test of the treats in December 2009. A follow-up inspection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found problems with the packaging and the manufacturing of the treats. The particular treats that have been recalled are Merrick Beef Filet Squares in the ten ounce red, green, and tan resealable bag. The recalled batch … Continue reading →

Middle Eastern Chicken Aussie Style

Here is a great chicken dish that goes beautifully with Middle Eastern Rice. My variation of Middle Eastern Chicken, is cooked in the barbecue instead of the oven, mainly because I don’t want to have to fuss and clean ovens. Anything done on the barbecue is Mick’s responsibility. But if you’re keen you could roast in an oven instead. I admit to being finicky about chicken. Because of risk of salmonella and other health issues, I always take precautions in preparing chicken. Some are things like hands and utensils scrupulously clean, but I also cut vegetable or fruit on a … Continue reading →

Mars Petcare Dog and Cat Food Recall Announced

Mars Petcare US — makers of several brands of pet food — announced a voluntary recall of products manufactured at a specific plant on September 12, 2008. The food is being recalled because of a potential salmonella contamination. Affected brands include Pedigree, Retriever, Country Acres, Pet Pride, and Ol’ Roy. You can see a full list of recalled foods at www.petcare.mars.com. Salmonella can cause infections in pets and in humans handling pet food. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning in pets can include: Lethargy Diarrhea and/or bloody diarrhea Fever Vomiting Decreased appetite Abdominal pain If you believe that your pet has eaten … Continue reading →

Contaminated Tomato Update

After months of investigation and few answers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that it is once again safe to eat tomatoes. However the FDA still does not know where the contamination came from. The warning has been lifted because there are no longer any tomatoes coming onto the market from locations that were on the suspect list. Towards the end of June, with the outbreak finally starting to slow, new warnings emerged. The FDA warns that people who are risk of salmonella (like infants, the elderly, and people with impaired immune systems) avoid fresh hot peppers like … Continue reading →

Preventing Salmonellosis

With all the hubbub over contaminated tomatoes in the news, I thought this would be a good time to take a look at different ways you can prevent salmonellosis — food poisoning with salmonella bacteria. Don’t eat raw or undercooked eggs. Eggs are a common carrier of salmonella. Beware of raw eggs in some foods like salad dressings, sauces, and condiments. And try to resist tasting cookie or cake batter! Don’t eat raw or unpasteurized milk products or dairy products. Pasteurization treats milk and dairy products to make them safer for eating. Cook meats until they are well done. Meats … Continue reading →

Reacting to Contaminated Foods

I read the headlines — but not the stories — before I went to grocery shopping this afternoon. An outbreak of salmonella, related to tomatoes grown in Florida and Mexico. That was all I knew. As I wandered the aisles at Costco — and especially as I reached the fruits and veggies — I started to see signs. Things like, “our tomatoes are safe” and variations thereof. I was pretty impressed with their quick response. Once I checked out and walked past the concession area, I saw another sign: “wraps made without tomatoes”. Maybe the tomatoes they use in their … Continue reading →

What is Salmonellosis?

Salmonellosis is a type of food poisoning caused by a bacteria called salmonella. The current salmonellosis outbreak (related to raw tomatoes) is caused by a variant of the bacteria called salmonella saintpaul. There are approximately forty thousand cases of salmonellosis reported in the United States each year. Problems are more common in summer than in winter, but can happen at any time of year. Causes of salmonellosis can include: Food contaminated during processing or handling — always prepare food on a clean surface. Food contaminated by unwashed hands — always wash your hands when touching food! The bacteria can be … Continue reading →

What You Need to Know about Contaminated Tomatoes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about a salmonella outbreak related to tomatoes. Right now, the FDA does not know for sure where the contaminated tomatoes are coming from. As of the posting of this article, tomatoes from Florida and Mexico are NOT on the FDA’s safe list. Since mid-April, the FDA has received reports of 167 cases of salmonellosis associated with eating raw tomatoes. Twenty-three of those cases required hospitalization and one patient has died. Infections have occurred most often in New Mexico and Texas. The FDA issued the first warnings about contaminated tomatoes on … Continue reading →

Possible Human Health Risk from Pet Treats

If you give your pets beef or seafood flavored treats, you may be at risk for salmonella infection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report last month warning people to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling pet treats to prevent infection. In 2004 and 2005, nine cases of salmonella were reported by pet owners who handled infected treats. The treats came from different manufacturers but had one thing in common: a type of salmonella called Salmonella Thompson. (Kind of sounds like a name from a bad gangster movie, huh?) The treats were … Continue reading →