Health News: Mexican cilantro sickened 546 people ♦ Company owner faces life sentence for food poisoning outbreak ♦ Alzheimer's drug could prevent bone fractures

CDC: Cyclospora outbreak linked to Mexican cilantro sickened 546 people The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that the recent Cyclospora outbreak sickened 546 people from 31 states from May to August. The numbers of reported cases in the U.S. have returned to baseline levels, the agency noted. CDC stated that epidemiologic and traceback investigations conducted in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia by...

Company owner faces life sentence for food poisoning outbreak Inside, Almer wrote: I did not know where to send this to since my mother is no longer alive, so I am sending it to you, the person who is responsible for where she is today. Shirley Mae Almer, 72, survived lung cancer and a brain tumor, but not one of America's favorite foods: peanut butter. Parnell's company, PCA, had manufactured the creamy stuff that she slathered on

Virus re-engineered to deliver therapies to cells Researchers stripped a virus of its infectious machinery and turned its benign core into a delivery vehicle that can target sick cells while leaving healthy tissue alone

Alzheimer's drug could prevent bone fractures The most common drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease increases bone mass in mice, according to a recent article. Researchers say this means the drug could also be used to treat bone loss diseases like osteoporosis and periodontitis, following further clinical research.

Health News: Viagra in alcohol latest food scare in China ♦ CDC: 358 Cyclospora cases in 26 states linked to cilantro ♦ Heating and cooling with light leads to ultrafast DNA diagnostics

Viagra in alcohol latest food scare in China Chinese police are investigating if two distillers added Viagra to their liquor in the country’s latest food-safety scare. The Liuzhou Food and Drug Administration said that it found the Guikun Alcohol Plant and the Deshun Alcohol Plant, both located in the southwest of China, were putting Sildenafil, more commonly known as Viagra, into three of their baijiu products.

CDC: 358 Cyclospora cases in 26 states linked to cilantro According to an update posted Friday, July 31, 2015, as of July 30, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had been notified of 358 ill persons with confirmed Cyclospora infection from 26 states so far this year.

Parents inclined to misjudge child happiness based on personal feelings Parents' estimations of their children's happiness differ significantly from the child's own assessment of their feelings, according to a new study. Research showed parents of 10 and 11-year-olds consistently overestimated their child's happiness, while those with 15 and 16-year-olds were inclined to underestimate

Heating and cooling with light leads to ultrafast DNA diagnostics Researchers used LEDs and a thin film of gold to turbocharge the heating and cooling cycles of the PCR test so results are ready in minutes, not hours. The innovation greatly expands the clinical and research applications of a workhorse lab tool used in forensics, medical diagnostics and more.

Kroger recalls Cilantro due to possible Cyclospora Contamination

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The Cilantro was sold by the bunch at Kroger Stores located in: Greater Memphis area, Tennessee; Arkansas; Mississippi; Western Kentucky; North Carolina; Virginia; Eastern West Virginia; Eastern Kentucky; Southeastern Ohio;

the Cilantro  may be contaminated with Cyclospora cayetanensis and, if eaten, could result in severe illness to those who may consume this product.

Cyclospora infects the small intestine (bowel) and usually causes watery diarrhea,bloating, increased gas, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, nausea, low-grade fever, and fatigue. In some cases, vomiting, explosive diarrhea, muscle aches, and substantial weight loss can

-Also Food and Drug Administration is banning imports of some fresh cilantro from Puebla, Mexico, after a government investigation found human feces and toilet paper in growing fields there.

The FDA announced the partial ban Monday after cilantro imported from the state of Puebla was linked to 2013 and 2014 outbreaks of stomach illnesses in the United States. The FDA said health authorities in Texas and Wisconsin also suspect cilantro from the region is responsible for more illnesses this year.

Following up on the outbreaks, U.S. and Mexican health authorities investigated 11 farms and packing houses in Puebla over the last three years. The FDA said it discovered "objectionable conditions" at eight of those firms, including five that were linked to the U.S. outbreaks. The FDA said the officials discovered the feces and toilet paper in fields and found that some of the farms had no running water or toilet facilities.

The investigation also found dirty containers that had held cilantro and, at one firm, water that tested positive for the cyclospora parasite that caused the stomach illnesses.

In its "import alert" issued Monday, the FDA said it suspects the contamination came from "contact with the parasite shed from the intestinal tract of humans" in the growing fields, contaminated water or harvesting, processing and packing activities.

The ban will only affect certain shipments of fresh cilantro from Puebla from April through August, corresponding to the timing of the outbreaks. The summer ban will continue in future years unless a company can prove to health authorities that its product is safe.

Giant Foods Recalls Cilantro

 Following a recall by Shenandoah Growers, Giant Food announced it removed from sale Giant brand packaged cilantro due to potential Salmonella contamination.

The following product is included in this recall:

• Giant packaged cilantro, 2.5 oz., UPC 68826703077, purchased on or after October 9, 2014

Giant Food has received no reports of illnesses to date. Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

Customers who have purchased the product should discard any unused portions and bring their purchase receipt to Giant Food for a full refund. 

Consumers looking for additional information on the recall may call Shenandoah Growers at 844-524-3885. In addition customers may call Giant Food Customer Service at 888-469-4426 for more information. Customers can also visit the Giant website at www.giantfood.com.  

8/29/14 Health News: US Food Contain Ingredients Banned In Other Countries ♦ CYCLOSPORA LINKED TO CILANTRO ♦

80% of the Food in US Contain Ingredients Banned In Other Countries

In the book, authors Mira and Jason Calton provide a list of banned ingredients which they term "Banned Bad Boys" as well as the countries which have banned them. Among the items is Olestra - commonly used in low/no-fat snack foods and known to cause serious gastrointestinal issues - which has been banned in the United Kingdom and Canada.  Worse is brominated vegetable oil, a substance found in Mountain Dew and Fresca which has been banned in more than 100 countries. As the authors state, brominated vegetable oil "has been linked to basically every form of thyroid disease - from cancer to autoimmune diseases - known to man." Continue Reading

TEXAS CYCLOSPORA CASES LINKED TO MEXICAN CILANTRO

At least 126 Cyclospora-related illnesses in Texas reported this year have now been traced back to fresh cilantro imported from Mexico, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. State and federal health officials revealed the source of the outbreak at the same time they announced that the outbreak was considered over. The case... Continue Reading

Protein-enriched aquaculture feed from sweet potato pushed

SWEET potato (Ipomoea batatas), locally known as kamote, is an important food crop. In some areas of the Philippines, it is a staple particularly among marginalized families in provinces, as they are easy to cultivate and relatively cost less than a kilo of rice.

One of the problems facing the aquaculture industry today is the high cost of fish feed. Nutritionists all over the world are constantly searching for the dietary protein sources of fish to maximize growth and increase production within the shortest possible time and at lowest Continue reading

Cilantro (Coriander) Recalled Due to Salmonella

Swanson Health Products is voluntarily recalling Swanson Premium Brand Full Spectrum Cilantro (Coriander), item number SW1112, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella is an organism that 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 entering the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The product was sold by several different methods. It was either sold at the Swanson Health Products retail store, 109 Broadway N., Fargo, North Dakota, shipped directly to online or mail-order consumers, or held for pick up by the consumer at Swanson Health Products headquarters. The product was sold between November 21, 2013, and January 31, 2014.

The lot numbers of Swanson Premium Brand Full Spectrum Cilantro (Coriander) included in this recall are 203921 and 204888, with a manufacturing date of 11/2013. The lot number and manufacturing date can be found on the label near the UPC code.

Swanson Health Products became aware of the potential contamination after being notified by its supplier, UST Corporation, Layton, Utah. UST Corp. had earlier learned of the potential contamination from its supplier. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this voluntary recall. The raw material, as well as the finished products capsules, have been tested and found to contain no trace of Salmonella.

Consumers in possession of this voluntarily recalled product may return it to Swanson Health Products headquarters in Fargo, North Dakota. Consumers or media with questions should contact Swanson Health Products Customer Care at (800) 451-9304 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm CDT).

 

Cilantro Recalled Due to Listeria

August 17, 2013, Willard, OH – Buurma Farms, Inc. is voluntarily recalling 465 boxes of Cilantro due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, an organism Buurma Farms, Inc. has not received any case of reported illness related to this product to date.

The Cilantro was sold to distributors in Michigan on August 3, 2013. The product was also shipped to retail stores in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The Cilantro, which was distributed through Meijer and Ben B Schwartz and Sons in Michigan the week of August 5-9, could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.The Cilantro is sold in 4 oz. bunches with a Product of USA Buurma Farms #4889 labeled twist tie,

Consumers who may have purchased this product should return or dispose of the product.

Buurma Farms Inc. became aware of this issue after the Michigan Department of Agriculture conducted a routine test on a sample obtained at Ben B Schwartz and found that sample contained the bacteria. The recall does not affect any other Buurma Farms produce products.

Upon learning of the potential contamination, Buurma Farms quickly alerted the retailer and wholesaler and requested they remove the produce from their shelves. The source of the contamination is still under investigation. They are fully co-operating with the FDA in its investigation.

Customers who have questions may contact Buurma Farms Inc. at 419-935-6411, Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm Eastern.The Cilantro was sold at Coastal Produce, in Detroit, Johnny Pompdoro, in Farmington Hills, Preferred Brands, in Lincoln Park, and various Meijer  Locations.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.