Source: truefoodnow.org

Judge Jeffrey White, federal district judge for the Northern District of California,
issued a ruling granting the request of plaintiffs Center for Food Safety, Organic Seed Alliance, High Mowing Organic Seeds, and the Sierra Club to rescind the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) approval of genetically engineered “Roundup Ready” sugar beets (Center for Food Safety v. Vilsack, No. C08-00484 JSW [N.D. Cal. 2010]). In September 2009, the Court had found that the USDA had violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by approving the Monsanto-engineered biotech crop without first preparing an Environmental Impact Statement. The crop was engineered to resist the effects of Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, which it sells to farmers together with the patented seed. Similar Roundup Ready crops have led to increased use of herbicides, proliferation of herbicide resistant weeds, and contamination of conventional and organic crops.

Read more…

Source: MIKE STOBBE and MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press

ATLANTA – Hundreds of people have been sickened in a salmonella outbreak linked to eggs in four states and possibly more, health officials said Wednesday as a company dramatically expanded a recall to 380 million eggs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with state health departments to investigate the illnesses. No deaths have been reported, said Dr. Christopher Braden, a CDC epidemiologist involved in the investigation.

Initially, 228 million eggs, or the equivalent of 19 million dozen-egg cartons, were recalled by the company Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa. But that number was increased to nearly 32 million dozen-egg cartons.

Read more…

Bill S 510

Shared by the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center
www.treeoflife.nu

A most dire bill is up before the U.S. Senate currently.

We are calling you to respond to this with the force of your intentions and actions. S 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010, may be the most dangerous bill in the history of the US.

According to Dr. Shiv Chopra, “If accepted [S 510] would preclude the public’s right to grow, own, trade, transport, share, feed and eat each and every food that nature makes. It will become the most offensive authority against the cultivation, trade and consumption of food and agricultural products of one’s choice. It will be unconstitutional and contrary to natural law or, if you like, the will of God.

It is similar to what India faced with imposition of the salt tax during British rule, only S 510 extends control over all food in the US, violating the fundamental human right to food.”

Please write your State Senators today by going to
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

For more information on the bill, go to
http://www.treeoflife.nu/gabriel-cousens-m-d/activism-outreach/bill-510/

Recall Due to Mislabeling and Undeclared Allergens

Here’s an excerpt:

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2010 – Galant Food Co., a San Francisco, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 250 pounds of chicken puff products and beef puff products because they contain an undeclared allergen, egg, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Egg is a known potential allergen, which is not declared on the label.

The chicken puff products also contain soy and yellow #5, to which some individuals have an allergic response or intolerance. Neither soy nor yellow #5 is declared on the recalled chicken puff products’ label.

The products subject to recall include: [View Labels, PDF Only]

Cardboard trays containing 24 puffs, labeled “GALINA’S PIROSHKI, Chicken Provance Puffs.” The bottom center of each label reads “CASE COUNT 24, NET WT. 5 oz., KEEP FROZEN.” Each package bears the establishment number “P-9014″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. Partial orders may have been placed, in which case the cardboard trays contain fewer than 24 puffs per tray.

Cardboard trays containing 24 puffs, labeled “GALINA’S PIROSHKI, Beef & Farm Vegetables Puffs.” The bottom center of each label reads “CASE COUNT 24, NET WT. 5 oz., KEEP FROZEN.” Each package bears the establishment number “Est. 9014″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. Partial orders may have been placed, in which case the cardboard trays contain fewer than 24 puffs per tray.

Read the entire recall…

Recall Release CLASS II RECALL
FSIS-RC-023-2010 HEALTH RISK: LOW

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2010 – North American Bison Co-Op, a New Rockford, N.D., establishment is recalling approximately 25,000 pounds of whole beef heads containing tongues that may not have had the tonsils completely removed, which is not compliant with regulations that require the removal of tonsils from cattle of all ages, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Tonsils are considered a specified risk material (SRM) and must be removed from cattle of all ages in accordance with FSIS regulations. SRMs are tissues that are known to contain the infective agent in cattle infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), as well as materials that are closely associated with these potentially infective tissues. Therefore, FSIS prohibits SRMs from use as human food to minimize potential human exposure to the BSE agent.

The product subject to recall includes:
Various weight cases of “Beef Heads KEEP FROZEN.” Each case bears the
establishment number “EST. 18859″ inside the USDA mark of inspection and a case code number “16999.” “North Dakota Natural Beef” is printed in the bottom left-hand corner of each label.

The recalled products were produced between June 25, 2009, and February 19, 2010.
These products were shipped to distribution centers in Md., CO, and Minn. for further sale. Read more  

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-022-2010 HEALTH RISK: HIGH

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2010 – Lorentz Meats, a Cannon Falls, Minn., establishment, is recalling approximately 100 pounds of ham products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall: [View Label]

Various sizes of whole or half ham packages of “KOWALSKI’S Markets,
FULLY COOKED, SMOKED HAM, Naturally Smoked with Hardwoods, KEEP REFRIGERATED.”
Each package bears a freeze by date “FREEZE BY 05/14/10″ as well as the
establishment number “Est. 21207″ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The ham products were produced on March 12, 2010, and were distributed to retail establishments in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., and the surrounding area.

The problem was discovered through third-party testing, and the establishment notified FSIS. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Read more

N.Y. Gourmet Salads, Inc., a Brooklyn, N.Y., establishment, is recalling
an undetermined amount of various chicken products because the products
were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The following products are subject to recall:

* 5-pound tubs of “CHICKEN SALAD, MADE WITH ALL WHITE MEAT.”

* 5-pound tubs of “GRILLED CHICKEN PASTA & BROCCOLI.”

* 3-pound trays with six wraps of “CHICKEN w/ROASTED PEPPER & MOZZARELLA WRAP.”

* 5-pound trays of “GRILLED BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST CUTLET.”

* 5-pound trays of “TERIYAKI CHICKEN BREAST.”

The chicken products were produced intermittently between November 5, 2009,
and March 10, 2010, and were distributed to retail establishments in the
New York City metropolitan area. Each chicken product bears the establishment
number “P-34440″ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Consumers may have purchased these chicken products at delicatessen counters
at supermarkets.

The problem was discovered by FSIS and is part of an ongoing investigation.
FSIS has received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products.
Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms
notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain
that the product is no longer available to consumers. If available, the retail
distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS Web site.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_018_2010_Release/index.asp

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-065-2009 HEALTH RISK: HIGH

WASHINGTON, December 4, 2009 – Beef Packers, Inc., a Fresno, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 22,723 pounds of ground beef products that may be linked to an outbreak of salmonellosis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

60 pound cases of “GRD Beef Fine 93/07 10/60.” Each case bears the identifying case  code W69363 with Use/Freeze by dates of 10/11/09.

The ground beef products were produced on September 23, 2009 and bear the establishment number “EST. 31913″ printed on the case code labels. The ground beef products were distributed to a retail distribution center in Arizona. Because these products were repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different retail brand names, consumers should check with their local retailer to determine whether they may have purchased any of the products subject to recall.

Here is USA Today’s Headline I find very interesting:

Company Issues 2nd Recall for Tainted Beef

By Blake Morrison and Peter Eisler, USA TODAY
For the second time this year, a Fresno beef company is recalling thousands
of pounds  of ground beef contaminated with a drug-resistant strain of salmonella. Beef Packers Inc., owned by Cargill, announced the recall Friday. It covers 22,723 pounds of ground beef products that were sent to stores in Arizona and New Mexico.

WHY: Recall didn’t include school lunches
SECOND INFECTION: Family’s nightmare begins
      What’s happening? Read more…

Congressional and Public Affairs

(202) 720-9113
Peggy Riek

WASHINGTON, November 4, 2009 – Curly’s Food, Inc., a Sioux City, Iowa, establishment,
is recalling approximately 12,181 pounds of roast beef deli products
because they were inadvertently mislabeled and contain an undeclared allergen,
soy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety
and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
Soy is a known potential allergen, which is not declared on the label.

The following product is subject to recall:

Cases containing two (2) various size weight deli-faced pieces of “Healthy Ones,
Medium Cooked Roast Beef, 97% Fat Free, No Fillers, No Artificial Flavors,
Lower Sodium” in vacuum packaged bags. Each package bears a use by date
of “01/03/2010″ or “01/10/2010,” a case code of “30900-17856″ as well as the establishment number “EST. 15878″ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The roast beef deli products were produced on October 5 and 12, 2009, and were distributed to retail-type delicatessens and Department of
Defense Commissaries in California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland,
Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The problem was discovered by the company following a product check.
FSIS has received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption
of these products. Anyone concerned about an allergic reaction
should contact a physician.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling
firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to
make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company Consumer Hotline at 1-800-722-1127.

Recall Release CLASS II RECALL
FSIS-RC-060-2009 HEALTH RISK: LOW

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Adrian Gianforti

WASHINGTON, November 4, 2009 – Bay Valley Foods, LLC, a Pittsburgh, Pa. establishment, is recalling approximately 20,286 pounds of canned cream of mushroom soup because it was inadvertently mislabeled and may contain an undeclared allergen, egg, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. Egg is a known potential allergen, which is not declared on the label.

The following product is subject to recall: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_060_2009_Release/index.asp

Cases containing 24 10.5-ounce cans of incorrectly labeled “Meijer Cream of Mushroom Reduced Sodium Condensed Soup.” The product is marked with “BEST BY 08 07 11″ that can be found on the bottom of the can and “51 P” inkjetted on the top. The soups may contain “Meijer Chicken Noodle Reduced Sodium Soup.”

The soup products were produced on August 7, 2009, and were distributed to retail stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky.

The problem was discovered after a Meijer Store received a consumer complaint. FSIS has received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an allergic reaction should contact a physician.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumer questions regarding the recall should be directed to Bay Valley Foods Consumer Response Department, at 1-800-236-1119. Media questions regarding the recall should be directed to Hill & Knowlton media contact, Ron Bottrell, at 312-446-6595.