Jun 29, 2009
FDA investigators find E coli in Nestle cookie dough sample
Nestle USA, based in Solon, Ohio, said it received word from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigators that they have identified and confirmed Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a retained production sample from a 16-ounce Nestle Toll House refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough bar. The company said the product has a day code of 9041 and "best before Jun 10 2009" printed on the package. Nestle recalled all varieties of its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough on Jun 19 after federal and state health officials reported 66 E coli illnesses in 28 states that were strongly linked in case control studies to eating the dough raw.
Multistate E coli illness investigation leads to beef recalls
JBS Swift Beef Company, based in Greeley, Colo., yesterday expanded its Jun 24 beef recall to include 380,000 pounds of primal cuts because they may be contaminated with E coli O157:H7, the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced. The expanded recall is the result of a traceback investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) into 24 illnesses in multiple states, of which 18 appear to be linked. The initial recall involved 41,280 pounds of beef products, most of it boneless beef bottom sirloin and butt ball tip. The recalled items were produced on Apr 21 and 22 and were shipped to distributors and retail outlets in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. The primal cuts that are the subject of the expanded recall were produced on Apr 21 and
distributed nationally and internationally. Though most of the cuts were used for steaks and roasts, the FSIS said some were processed into ground beef by other companies.
[Jun 28 FSIS news release]
[Jun 24 FSIS news release]
Salmonella investigation prompts dairy ingredient recall
Plainview Milk Products Cooperative, in Plainview, Minn., announced yesterday it is recalling the past 2 years of its food ingredient products—including nonfat dried milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers, and thickeners—because they might be contaminated with Salmonella, the FDA said in a press release. None of the products were sold to the public. The USDA had previously found Salmonella in dairy shake product that contained a key ingredient made by the company. The findings prompted an FDA investigation of the plant that revealed some of the equipment was contaminated with the pathogen. The FDA said it is coordinating its investigation with the USDA, CDC, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and state and local health departments.
[Jun 28 FDA press release]
