Health News: 5 kinds of French goat cheese contaminated ♦ Bioprinting in 3-D:could regenerate nerve cells ♦ Protein linked to binge-drinking behavior

Hong Kong: 5 kinds of French goat cheese contaminated with Salmonella The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 13) urged the public not to consume certain batches of five kinds of goat cheese from raw milk, imported from France, as the products contaminated with salmonella.

Brain protein linked to binge-drinking behavior Scientists have discovered that a brain protein has a key role in controlling binge drinking in animal models.Binge drinking puts people at greater risk for health problems such as cardiovascular disease, liver disease and nerve damage.

Bioprinting in 3-D could regenerate nerve cells Researchers are working on 3-D bioprinting synthetic tissue that could help regenerate nerve cells in the spinal cord..

Not just a flavoring:' Menthol, nicotine combined desensitize airway receptors Menthol acts in combination with nicotine to desensitize the type of nicotinic receptors found in lungs and airways that are responsible for nicotine's irritation, say researchers. They say their findings suggests menthol is not just a flavoring, but has an important pharmacologic effect.

Healing plants inspire new compounds for psychiatric drugs Treatments used by traditional healers in Nigeria have inspired scientists to synthesize four new chemical compounds that could one day lead to better therapies for people with psychiatric disorders.

Gene responsible for hypertension, brachydactyly identified Individuals with a newly discovered altered gene have hereditary hypertension and a skeletal malformation, brachydactyly type E, which is characterized by unusually short fingers and toes, scientists report. The effect on blood pressure is so serious that -- if left untreated -- it most often leads to death before age fifty.

House of Bricks Realty, Inc.Recalled French Pork Rillette

House of Bricks Realty, Inc., a Wilkes-Barre, PA establishment, is recalling approximately 130 pounds of French pork rillette because they were not presented at the U.S. point of entry for inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.  Without the benefit of full inspection, a possibility of adverse health consequences exists.

The following product are subject to recall: [View Labels]

• 3.2 oz  jars of “Les Trois Petits Cochons Rillettes De Pork” in French and “The Three Little Pigs Pork Rillettes” in English with BBY 04/2018/101 15:37 656” and “FR29 225 001CE” printed on the gold lid.

The cases contain 12 jars each and bear the French establishment number “29.225.001” and “P L J”  ” 155” and Enjoy by 04/11/18. The product was shipped to distributors for further sale to consumers.

The problem was discovered using the Public Health Information System (PHIS) when FSIS import staff reviewed records and discovered that the independent third party carrier did not present the products for USDA inspection at the U.S. point of entry.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.  

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. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact Tracy Blaine at (570) 823-9778 ext. 133.

9/914 Health News; Baby foods contain raised levels of cancer risk chemicals ♦ Taiwan food safety remains problematic ♦ French lavender farmers furious over EU regulation

Baby foods, cereals and crisps found to contain raised levels of cancer risk chemicals

Three baby foods as well as crisps, cereals and chips contain raised levels of a chemical linked to cancer.The Food Standards Agency (FSA) found higher than expected levels of acrylamide in a range of popular products.The substance, which develops during the cooking process, has been linked to a higher risk of cancer. Continue Reading

Taiwan food safety remains as problematic as ever

Food safety usually seems to be high on the priority lists of consumers, but it seems like we have little control over it. We trust the suppliers to protect us, but time and time again they have failed us. Tons of recycled oil have been uncovered at a Pingtung factory where products were reprocessed and redistributed through a major supplier, Chang Guann, to many food processing … continue reading

French lavender farmers furious over EU regulation they see as poisonous for their product

The sweet smell of lavender is tinged with bitterness this year in the south of France, as farmers who harvest the flower protest European regulations linking the plant to chemical toxins. Billboards proclaiming "Lavender is not a chemical" dot fields that yield what in Provence is known as blue gold — lavender oil, worth over 100 euros a kilogram. continue reading

Ireland: Four Types of French Cheese Recalled

Etoile du Vercors recalled Saint Felicien, Saint Marcellin, Sechon de Vache, and Tommes de Dauphine cheeses with use by dates from 04/08/14 to 03/09/14.

Verotoxigenic E. coli O26:H11 has been found in a batch of Saint Felicien cheese. The manufacturer, Etoile du Vercors, is recalling the above four types of cheese with the use by dates specified because they could have been made with the same contaminated raw milk. Affected cheeses were exported to Ireland to a small number of speciality stores. A recall notice is being displayed in these stores advising consumers not to consume the implicated cheeses.

E. coli O26:H11 can cause severe bloody diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. In some groups, particularly children under five years of age and the elderly, the infection can also cause a complication called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), in which the red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail.

Food businesses supplied with the implicated batches of cheese are requested to remove them from sale and clearly display a recall notice informing customers not to eat them. Food businesses who have sold the cheeses should inform their local inspector (unless contact has already been made).

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated cheeses.

Canada: French Cheese Recalled Due to E. coli

French Cheese Recalled Due to E. coli

La Fromagerie Hamel is recalling La fromagerie Hamel brand "St-Felicien lait cru France (Rhone-Alpes)" cheese from the marketplace due to possible E. coli O26:H11 contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name	Common Name	Size	Code(s) on Product
La Fromagerie Hamel	"St-Felicien lait cru France (Rhone-Alpes)"	180 g	11772104 Best Before 19/08/2014

Check to see if you have recalled product in your home. Recalled product should be thrown out or returned to the store where it was purchased.

Food contaminated with E. coli O26:H11 may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps and watery to bloody diarrhea. In severe cases of illness, some people may have seizures or strokes, need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis or live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

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