FDA Recalls

A new service we will provide is one on the specific recalls from the specific companies in our region from the USDA. If a company is in our region and has food products that are part of a recall we'll notify you as well as what you'll hear in the mainstream. Sometimes recalls can affect the distributors in our area as well as the producers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.These products were cooked on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, 2010, packed between Oct. 6 and Oct. 12, 2010, then distributed to wholesale and retail establishments throughout North Carolina. These products were not involved in the National School Lunch Program or Department of Defense sales.

"FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers (including restaurants) of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. Consumers and media with questions regarding the recall should contact Josh Whitley, the company's Owner/President, at (919) 496-6054. - USDA (FSIS)

If you're eating processed foods you'll always going to have to be concerned with your food choices and how they're manufactured. Once you're targeted by the USDA you can expect that they'll be back and they'll find something else to charge you with. Once they get you the USDA is like a dog with a bone. We were a little suspicious when we discovered that the recall concerned not named soy products. We've just written on the benefits of soy and couldn't see the problem.

"North Carolina Firm Recalls Pork Barbecue Products Due to an Undeclared Allergen - The Murphy House, a Louisburg, N.C., establishment, is recalling approximately 2,850 lbs. of pork barbecue products because they may contain an undeclared allergen, soy flour, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Soy flour is a known potential allergen, which is not declared on the label." USDA (February 5, 2010)

Soy flour does produced allergies to our surprise. These allergies can be severe and there are cases when the children and teens have died. According to the independent organization called the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN).

"Symptoms of soy allergy are typically mild, although anaphylaxis is possible. Soybean allergy is one of the more common food allergies, especially among babies and children." - The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (Education)

While the concern is that death is possible its not likely in adults according to all the research we could discover. We also discovered that there is research that has found that children can outgrow these allergies. Most interesting is that allergies appear as symptoms similar to other illness. Some of the research can be found at the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) with links to many of the abstracts.

"Hidden” allergens in foods - One clear message from the literature is that most fatal and near-fatal reactions happen when eating away from home. Individuals with severe food hypersensitivity should probably avoid processed foods. If it is necessary to purchase these foods, they should be made by a reliable manufacturer. Parents and children can learn to scrutinize food labels carefully. Unfortunately, the multiplicity of possible names for any one ingredient may let a hidden allergen slip by. If possible, hypoallergenic formulas should be tested in each case before being prescribed for children sensitive to cow’s milk. The very sensitive individual should wear a Medic Alert bracelet and carry an epinephrine (adrenaline) self-injector at all times. Less sensitive individuals may need to carry antihistamines with them. Fortunately, many individuals lose their reactivity to foods over time, albeit not completely in some." The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Preventative Measures)

While soy allergies are real there are many food allergies found in other processed products as well. While processing makes life more convenient for families on the go there is a health cost that may be too expensive for us to live with. In any event we do have to strongly suggest not giving pork barbecue to children under any circumstances. Who knew that there would be a food category "for adults only!"

"North Carolina Firm Recalls Brunswick Stew Products due to Undeclared Allergens - recalling 414 lbs. of Brunswick stew products because they contain cracker meal with undeclared allergens, wheat and milk, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Wheat and milk are known allergens, which are not declared on the label." USDA (April 29, 2010)

It's the date of above recall that lead us to see that the second recall was more USDA due diligence after the wheat and milk recall from months before the soy recall. The problem isn't with the product from the Murphy House. We're familiar with the company nor its products and news reports tend to be more headlines than in depth stories.

"Virginia Firm Recalls Imported Prosciutto Products Due To Potential Listeria Contamination - International Gourmet, a Springfield, Va., establishment, is recalling approximately 70 pounds of prosciutto products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced..." USDA (May 5, 2010)

International Gourmet is more of a distributor than manufacturer and the recall stems from problems at the factory that got caught too late. We're not blaming them but since we've started this section and Springfield Virginia is in our region we had to include it. Again if living a long life or a better life is of concern to you - you might want to give up the processed meats. If you want to know what to eat and what not to eat there's plenty of research to support the list from Dr. Susan Merola McCoon, Fayetteville, NC.