Trader Joe’s Walnuts Recalled due to Salmonella Contamination

Trader Joe’s Company is recalling Raw Walnuts because these products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recalled Trader Joe’s Raw Walnuts were distributed to Trader Joe’s stores nationwide.

The products are packaged in clear plastic bags with the UPC Codes printed on the back. For the Raw California Walnut products, the “BEST BY” dates and Lot Numbers can be found printed on the back of the packages. For the Organic Raw Walnut products, the “BEST BY” dates can be found printed on the front of the packages.

All potentially affected Raw Walnut products are as follows:

UPC	Product Description	“BEST BY” Dates	Lot Numbers
00373685	Trader Joe’s Nuts Raw California Walnut Pieces – 16oz	12/2015	GU4345
00943338	Trader Joe’s Nuts Raw California Walnut Halves & Pieces – 16 oz	12/2015	GU4346 GU4349 GU4356
00519342	Trader Joe’s Nuts Raw California Walnut Baking Pieces – 16 oz	12/2015	GU4350
00519328	Trader Joe’s Nuts Raw California Premium Walnut Halves – 16oz	12/2015	GU4343 GU4344 GU4351 GU4352
00586627	Trader Joe’s Organic Raw Walnut Halves & Pieces – 12oz	OCT 15 2015 OCT 16 2015 OCT 17 2015 OCT 20 2015 OCT 21 2015 NOV 17 2015 NOV 18 2015 NOV 19 2015 NOV 20 2015 NOV 28 2015 DEC 01 2015	N/A

The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by an outside company contracted by the FDA revealed the presence of Salmonella in certain packages of Trader Joe’s Raw Walnuts.

Out of an abundance of caution, Trader Joe’s removed all lots of these products from store shelves and will suspend sale of these products while the FDA and the manufacturers involved continue their investigation into the source of the problem.

Customers who have purchased any of this recalled Raw Walnut product are urged not to eat it, and to dispose of the product or return it to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund. Customers with questions may contact Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 [Monday through Friday, 6:00AM to 6:00PM PST].

Saving Lives with Phage Therapy Three

Bacteriophage (phage for short) use bacteria as a womb. They inject their DNA into the bacteria. They take energy from the bacteria and make 50 or more phages within the bacteria. Then they break open the bacteria and the phages go on there way.Depending on the type of phage this takes about twenty minutes.

There are two advantages to this One, the phages grow faster than the bacteria so they can over take them. Second, the phages end up in the same area as the infection.

One thing bacteria do is to form which are clumps of bacteria. The have small holes running through the film so that the bacteria in the middle can get food. It is 100 times harder for antibiotics to kill of a biofilm than it is to kill off individual bacteria.. Antibiotics kill of the outer layers of bacteria, but they grow back out from the middle.

Bacteriophage on the other hand can kill off the bacteria in the biofilm because there are more phages born every 20 minutes  Check out my campaign  to start a nonprofit to promote bacteriophage as a cure.

https://igg.me/at/you-can-save-lives

I will write something about phage therapy every day this month untill the campaign is over.

Drug Alert: Lack of Sterility Assurance

The FDA has issued a formal request to Downing Labs for an immediate recall of all lots of its purportedly sterile products currently on the market that are not expired. In the letter, the FDA outlined the practices and facility conditions that raise concerns about the sterility assurance of drug products made at the Downing Labs facility.

FDA investigators inspected the firm’s NuVision facility in Dallas, Texas in July, and observed insanitary conditions that result in a lack of sterility assurance that puts patients at risk. The inspection revealed sterility failures in 19 lots of drug products intended to be sterile; endotoxin failures in three lots of drug products; and inadequate or no investigation of these failures. NuVision’s products were distributed nationwide. Most of the product labels include: NuVision Pharmacy, Dallas TX. 75244 1-800-914-7435.

Risk: Endotoxins, which are substances found in certain bacteria, cause a wide variety of serious reactions such as fever, shock, and changes in blood pressure and other circulatory functions. Administration of a non-sterile drug product intended to be sterile may result in serious and potentially life-threatening infections or death.

Recommendations

• Consumers who have received any drug product produced by NuVision and have concerns should contact their healthcare professional.

Canada: Citadelle and Grey Owl Cheese Recalled Due to Staphylococcus Bacteria.

 The food recall warning issued on July 4, 2014 has been updated to include additional products. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Fromagerie Le Détour (2003) Inc. is recalling Citadelle and Grey Owl cheese from the marketplace because they may contain the toxin produced by Staphylococcus bacteria. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Also affected by this alert are the above products which may have been sold in smaller packages, cut and wrapped by some retailers. Consumers are advised to contact the retailer to determine if they have the affected products.

Recalled products

Brand Name	Common Name	Size	Code(s) on Product	UPC
Citadelle	Surface ripened soft cheese	Various	Lot 07	None
Grey Owl	Surface ripened soft cheese	Various	Lot : 21 Lot : 22 Lot : 23	None

Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased

Food contaminated with Staphylococcus toxin may not look or smell spoiled. The toxin produced by Staphylococcus bacteria is not easily destroyed at normal cooking temperatures. Common symptoms of Staphylococcus poisoning are nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and fever. In severe cases of illness, headache, muscle cramping and changes in blood pressure and pulse rate may occur.