10/30/14 Health News: CHILE PEPPER REMOVED - SALMONELLA ♦ DUNG BEETLES HELP ORGANIC FOOD SAFETY ♦ FISH SOURCE OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

RETAIL OUTLETS REMOVE CHILE PEPPER VARIETIES FROM SALE DUE TO POTENTIAL SALMONELLA

Following last week’s recall of fresh Serrano chile peppers by Bailey Farms Inc., Giant Food Stores LLC and Martin’s Food Markets announced that they removed from sale Serrano, Anaheim, Red Cherry Hot and Finger Hot peppers sold in a variety case due to potential Salmonella contamination. The following product is included in this recall: Serrano, Anaheim, Red... Continue Reading

DUNG BEETLES: FUTURE HEROES OF ORGANIC FOOD SAFETY?

In 2011, an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Oregon killed one person and sickened more than a dozen people. The outbreak was eventually traced back to organic strawberries grown at an Oregon farm, but how E. coli had managed to contaminate the strawberries remained a mystery for some time afterward. Eventually, state health officials... Continue Reading

STUDY: FARMED FISH COULD BE ANOTHER SOURCE OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

The concern surrounding animal antibiotics focuses on meat and poultry production, but a new study suggests we should also be paying attention to fish. Researchers at Arizona State University investigated 47 antibiotics in U.S.-purchased shrimp, salmon, catfish, trout, tilapia and swai originating from 11 different countries. Their findings, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, identified... Continue Reading

Fresh Serrano Chile Peppers Recalled Due to Salmonella

Bailey Farms, Inc. of Oxford, NC is voluntarily recalling 6,215 pounds of Fresh Serrano Chile Peppers, because it has 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 Fresh Serrano Chile Peppers was distributed to Meijer, Inc. and customers may have purchased this product from October 14th to October 19th at Meijer stores in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

In addition this product was distributed to Publix Super Markets Inc., Merchants Distributors, Inc., Walmart, Food Lion, Flavor 1st Growers and Packers, US Foods, Military Produce Group, LLC.,C&S Wholesalers, John Vena, Inc. and Harris Teeter. Consumers who suspect they may have purchased Fresh Serrano Chile Peppers from the above listed companies between the dates of October 2, 2014 to October 21, 2014 should check with the above listed companies to verify if the product was subject to recall.

A random sample was taken by the Michigan Department of Agriculture on October 13, 2014 from a warehouse in Lansing, Michigan. Bailey Farms, Inc. received notice that the sample tested positive for Salmonella on October 20, 2014. This recall is the result of the possibility that the remainder of these lots could be contaminated with this bacteria.

Consumers with questions can contact Bailey Farms, Inc. M-F 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST 1-888-820-2545.