3/23/14 Health News • Delaware didn’t inspect Cheese Plant that caused Listeria Infections ♦ Vitamin D Helps Breast Cancer Survival ♦ Coffee Fuels Drive for Drugs for Parkinson’s to Dementia

Delaware didn’t inspect Cheese Plant that caused Listeria Infections

The Delaware News Journal reported the reason not to inspect cheese producers like Roos Foods before it was shut down for Listeria was Delaware never sought expanded food safety inspection powers.

State rules kept blinders on local inspectors who made quarterly sanitation and compliance checks in a separate section where sour cream was produced in the same plant building that sent cheese to 10 eastern states, Texas and California. Continue Reading

Vitamin D Enhances Breast Cancer Survival

Women with high levels of vitamin D in their blood when they are diagnosed with breast cancer are almost twice as likely to survive as those with low levels of vitamin D, according to a meta-analysis published in the March issue of Anticancer Research. The meta-analysis looked at 5 studies of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) that reported hazard ratios for mortality from breast cancer by quintiles of the vitamin. Combined, the studies involved 4443 patients with breast cancer. Continue Reading

Coffee Fuels Drive for Drugs for Parkinson’s to Dementia

For clues to treatments for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, scientists are looking at their morning cup of joe. What they’ve found is that caffeine, the world’s most widely used drug, does more than wake people up. It’s been linked to improvements in memory and appears to protect against the destruction of brain cells. One study found that people who drank two or more cups of coffee a day had a 40 percent lower risk of developing Parkinson’s. Emboldened by these findings, some companies have been designing drugs to replicate those benefits.Continue Reading.

3/12/14 Health News: FDA SUSPENDS REGISTRATION OF CHEESE MANUFACTURER- Pesticide Safety - Child Health Problems - Open Plan Offices Make Cold and Flu Season Worse

FDA SUSPENDS REGISTRATION OF CHEESE MANUFACTURER OVER HEALTH RISK

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday suspended the food facility registration of Roos Food Inc., the maker of cheese and sour cream that has caused an outbreak of Listeria in Maryland and California that includes on death. The registration was suspended after FDA determined there was still a reasonable probability that food manufactured... Continue Reading

USDA SAYS PESTICIDE DATA SHOW NO FOOD SAFETY CONCERNS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently posted the latest data from the Pesticide Data Program (PDP) annual summary and, as in previous years, the agency found that, “U.S. food does not pose a safety concern based upon pesticide residues.” “This is continuing evidence that fruits and vegetables for sale in the United States are exceedingly.. Continue Reading

Child Health Problems 'Linked to Father's Age'

A wide range of disorders and problems in school-age children have been linked to delayed fatherhood in a major study involving millions of people. Increased rates of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, suicide attempts and substance abuse problems were all reported. The study, in JAMA Psychiatry, suggests mutated sperm were to blame. Continue Reading

Blame Open Plan Offices for Making Cold and Flu Season Worse

The most popular office design in the United States is a large open plan office. People who have seen such offices half empty or full of sniffling people during the winter flu season won’t be surprised to hear they make people more likely to get sick. Compared to people in mostly or partially private spaces, people in open plan offices of all sizes report taking more sick leave, according to a recent study. Open plan offices were connected to increased instances of sick leave lasting seven days or less,.Continue Reading

Roos Foods Recalls More Types of Cheese

Update: Roos Foods has voluntarily expanded their February 23, 2014 recall to include all lots of Amigo and Mexicana brands of Requesón (part-skim ricotta in 15 oz. and 16 oz. plastic containers and all lots of Amigo, Mexicana and Santa Rosa De Lima brands of Queso de Huerta (fresh curd cheese).

Roos Foods, Kenton De Recalls ALL LOTS of the Following Cheeses:

Mexicana: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses; Amigo: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses; Santa Rosa De Lima: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses and Anita Queso Fresco Because Of Possible Health Risk.

Roos Foods of Kenton, DE is recalling the above cheeses because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which 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. Products were distributed in Maryland, Virginia and Washing ton D.C through retail stores.

The products are packaged in flexible plastic bags and rigid plastic clamshell packages in 12 oz. and 16 oz. sizes under the brand names: Mexicana, Amigo, Santa Rosa De Lima, and Anita.

As a follow-up to reported illness, samples of various intact/unopened cheeses produced or repacked by Roos Foods, Inc., collected by the Commonwealth of Virginia Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services and Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene found to contain Listeria monocytogenes which appear to be linked to the illnesses.

The company has ceased the production and distribution of the products as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

Customers should destroy all lots of the above listed products of the brand names Mexicana, Amigo, Santa Rosa De Lima and Anita. For any refund, please return recalled products to store.

If you have any further questions please contact Virginia Mejia phone number (302) 653-8458. Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 3 pm EST.

Multistate Outbreak of Listeria Infections (Listeriosis)

A total of 8 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from two states. Seven were from Maryland and one from California. Among persons for whom information is available, dates that illness was diagnosed range from August 1, 2013 to November 27, 2013. Seven of the eight ill persons were hospitalized. Five of the illnesses were related to a pregnancy; two of these were diagnosed in two mother–newborn pairs, and one in only the newborn. The three other illnesses occurred among adults.  One death was reported in California.  All ill persons were reported to be of Hispanic ethnicity.

Clinical specimens that were collected after February 1, 2014 might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 3 weeks.

In interviews, ill persons answered questions about foods consumed and other exposures in the month before becoming ill. All patients in Maryland reported consuming soft or semi-soft Hispanic-style cheese and all shopped at different locations of same food store chain (Chain A). Testing of cheese products collected from Chain A stores was performed in Maryland and Virginia.

Virginia’s Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) identified the outbreak strain ofListeria monocytogenes in a sample of Caujada en Terron (fresh cheese curd) collected by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) from a Chain A store. This cheese was likely produced by Roos Foods of Kenton, Delaware and was later repackaged in the Chain A store.  VDACS issued a press release on February 15, 2014 instructing persons who purchased this product not to consume the cheese and to discard any remaining product.  

VDACS subsequently collected pre-packaged Caujada en Terron produced by Roos Foods from Chain A that was not repackaged in the store. The Virginia DCLS identified Listeria monocytogenesfrom these samples; a consumer advisory was issued on February 21, 2014. DNA fingerprinting and whole-genome sequencing will be performed on these isolates. In addition, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has tested samples of pre-packaged cheese products purchased at Chain A stores; those products produced by Roos Foods are preliminarily positive for Listeria monocytogenes. On February 19, 2014, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued a warning to consumers to not eat any cheese products made by Roos Foods. Their warning stated that Roos Foods cheese products are sold under brand names Santa Rosa de Lima, Amigo, Mexicana, Suyapa, La Chapina, and La Purisima Crema Nica.

FDA posted information about the investigation on February 21, 2014

Further investigation is needed to determine the source of the patients’ illnesses, including whether the illnesses were related to food products that tested positive for Listeria.

Several Brands of Cheese May Be Contaminated With Listeria

Maryland Warns Consumers Not to Eat Cheeses Made by 

Roos Foods Due to Possible Health Risk

 

Baltimore, MD (February 19, 2014) – As part of an ongoing investigation, testing of cheese products by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) is presumptively positive for Listeria bacteria.  The products were made by Roos Foods of Kenton, Delaware.  While confirmatory testing is underway, DHMH advises consumers not to eat any cheese products made by Roos Foods, or foods that have been made with these cheeses.  Roos Foods include the following brands:  Santa Rosa de Lima, Amigo, Mexicana, Suyapa, La Chapina, and La Purisima Crema Nica.

 

 Listeria bacteria can cause a serious infection called listeriosis.  Listeriosis is caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria bacteria, and typically occurs within 3 days to 10 weeks (usually within 3 weeks).  Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions which can be preceded by nausea or diarrhea.  Listeria infection can be treated with antibiotics. Listeriosis in pregnant women may cause fever and other flu-like symptoms which can be mild. However, because Listeria infection can cause premature labor, premature delivery, miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe infection of newborns, it is especially important that pregnant women avoid these products. 

 

 Other persons at higher risk for disease include:

·         Newborns

·         Elderly persons

·         Individuals with a weakened immune system (for example: persons with AIDS, cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease)

 

 If a person has any of the above symptoms and has consumed cheese from Roos Foods, they should consult their healthcare provider.  More information on listeriosis can be found at: http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/SitePages/Listeriosis.aspx