Great Britain: Barton Farm Dairy Kentisbury Down soft cheese recall

Barton Farm Dairy has been advised to recall a batch of Kentisbury Down soft cheese because of the presence of salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause food poisoning.

Product name: Barton Farm Dairy Kentisbury Down soft cheese

‘Best before’ date: 26 November 2015

Pack size: various sizes

Barton Farm Dairy has been advised to recall the above product. The affected batch has been sold direct from the farm premises and also at farmers markets.

If you have bought any of the above product, do not consume it. Instead, contact the Barton Farm Dairy (tel: 01271 882283, email: info@bartonfarmdairy.co.uk) for further advice.

Cooks Farm Dairy Recalls Chocolate Milk

Cooks Farm Dairy, 2950 E. Seymour Lake Rd. Ortonville, MI 48462 is voluntarily recalling their Cooks Farm Dairy Chocolate Milk because it may contain illness-causing pathogens.  Although no illnesses have been reported, Cooks Farm Dairy is recalling this product out of an abundance of caution.

The MDARD conducted routine sampling of the chocolate milk, where analysis found the sample with high levels of phosphatase, which indicates that the chocolate milk was under-pasteurized. The dairy plant’s owner is cooperating with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) in working to determine the cause.

The chocolate milk is packaged in plastic pints, plastic half gallons and plastic gallon containers with a 7/20 code date on the bottle.  The product was distributed to retail stores in southeastern Michigan and at the “Endless Cup of Chocolate Milk” booth at the Oakland County Fair July 4th through the 13th, 2014.

Consumers who have purchased Cooks Farm Dairy Chocolate Milk with a 7/20 date code date are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.  No other Cooks Dairy Farm products are involved in this recall.

Cheese and Salsa Recalled Due to Listeria

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is alerting consumers to avoid eating certain cheese and salsa produced by Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC is cooperating with the MDA investigation and has issued a voluntary recall of all products with the sell by dates listed below. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return it to the place of purchase or discard it.

The list of recalled products includes:

• 8-ounce Parkers cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar and port wine varieties with a sell by date of 5/21/2015;
• 14-ounce Parkers cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar and port wine varieties with a sell by date of 5/20/2015;
• 16-ounce Parkers salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including hot, mild, garlic, and fire-roasted varieties with a sell by date of 9/19/2014;
• 5-pound and 10-pound bulk foodservice products including cold pack cheese foods and cheese spreads with a sell by date of 2/17/2015.

The products are distributed locally under the Parkers Farm label. These products were sold at several retail stores including but not limited to Cub, Rainbow, County Market, and Kowalski’s stores. Consumers with questions can contact the company at (800) 869-6685 or the website:  www.parkersfarm.com.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease marked by fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can sometimes cause fatal infections in infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

Any consumers who believe they may have become ill after eating the products should contact their healthcare provider.

Peanut Butter, Cheese, Salsa, and Spreads Recalled Due to Listeria

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is alerting consumers to avoid eating certain peanut butter, cheese, salsa, and spreads produced by Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC after state agriculture department product sampling determined some of the finished products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

. Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC is cooperating with the MDA investigation and has issued a voluntary recall of all products with the “sell by” dates listed below. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase or discard them.

The list of recalled products includes:

16-ounce Parkers peanut butter in square plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including creamy, crunchy, honey creamy and honey crunchy varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;

34-ounce Parkers peanut butter in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including creamy and crunchy varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;

12-ounce Parkers spreads in round or square plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including jalapeño and pimento varieties with a sell by date before 9/20/2014;

8-ounce and 16-ounce Parkers cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, bacon, onion, smoked cheddar, Swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and “Swiss & cheddar” varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;

16-ounce Parkers salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including hot, mild, garlic, and fire-roasted varieties with a sell by date before 7/20/2014;

10-ounce Parkers cheese balls or logs (plastic overwrap), including sharp cheddar, port wine, ranch, and “smokey bacon” varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;

10-ounce Happy Farms cheese balls (plastic overwrap), including sharp cheddar and port wine varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;

16-ounce Happy Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers  (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar and port wine varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;

8-ounce Central Markets cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, port wine, horseradish, and Swiss almond varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;

12-ounce and 20-ounce Hy-Top cheese spread in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including pimento and jalapeño varieties with a sell by date before 9/20/2014;

8-ounce Amish Classic cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, port wine, and Swiss almond varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;

14-ounce Say Cheez beer cheese in round plastic container (tub with snap on lid), including regular and hot varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;

10-ounce Win Schuler original variety cheese balls or logs (plastic overwrap) with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;

8-ounce,12-ounce, and 14-ounce Bucky Badger cheese spreads (tub with snap-on lid) including cheddar, port wine, bacon, garlic, horseradish, jalapeño, and Swiss almond varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015; and

5-pound foodservice products including cold pack cheese foods, cheese spreads and peanut butter with a sell by date before 3/20/2015.

The products are distributed nationwide under the Parkers Farm, Parkers, Happy Farms, Central Markets, Hy-Top, Amish Classic, Say Cheez, Win Schuler, and Bucky Badger labels. These products were sold at several retail stores including but not limited to Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Byerly’s, Lunds, Target, Whole Foods, Price Chopper, Nash Finch, Costco, ALDI, Wal-Mart, and Brookshire stores.

Consumers with questions can contact the company at (800) 869-6685 or the website: www.parkersfarm.com.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease marked by fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can sometimes cause fatal infections in infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

Any consumers who believe they may have become ill after eating the products should contact their healthcare provider

Dairy Farm Raided in Tennessee

The Health department and deputies raided McBee Dairy Farm in Mascot, Tennessee after after an outbreak of the E coli bacteria. Several Children were sickened by the E coli and three children were hospitalized. In the most severe cases E coli  can cause kidney failure.

Consumers have been advised to stop drinking the raw cow and goat milk from that farm. The Knox County Health Department is contacting anyone who may have purchased these products. Raw milk sales are legal in Tennessee, as long as the consumer “owns” the cow through cow-share agreements.

E coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Listeria bacteria can be found in raw milk. Those at greatest risk for serious illness from these bacteria include the very young, elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses and compromised immune systems. From 1998 to 2011, there have been 148 outbreaks linked to raw milk, sickening 2,384 people and causing 284 hospitalizations and two deaths.

Unfortunately, 82% of those outbreaks involved at least one person younger than the age of 20. And since many food poisoning cases are not reported, the actual number of illness associated with raw milk is most likely higher than those numbers. Since the bacteria are not evenly distributed in raw milk, and the presence of the bacteria is unpredictable, some people never get sick when they consume unpasteurized milk, while others may get sick the first time they try it.

Patrol cars lined the farm's driveway Thursday as investigators collected samples from the cattle and their milk, trying to find where the E. coli outbreak came from.

"We were aware of it and our customers have all been made aware of it several times," said owner Marcie McBee.

No one can purchase raw cow or goat milk from the farm after a cease and desist order was issued. The owner is now defending her farm, which produces 450 gallons of milk per week.

"Our goal is to keep our customers safe," added McBee. “We advised everyone to stop drinking their milk and hold it until we got our testing back,"

Knox County Health officials saying diet is the common thread with these children.

"In children, in particular, if they get E. coli and the symptoms would be fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. They can kind of have a mild case and then in a few days they can get really sick," said Knox County Health Director Martha Buchanan.

McBee is hoping to have the dairy open in about a week after the problems have been rectified

Costco’s Recalls More Chicken

Costco’s El Camino Real store in San Francisco, Calif., is recalling an additional 14,093 units of rotisserie chicken products that may be contaminated with a strain of Salmonella, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. This is in addition to the 9,043 units that were recalled on Oct. 12.

The products subject to recall are:

• 13,455 “Kirkland Signature Foster Farms” rotisserie chickens
• 638 total units of “Kirkland Farm” rotisserie chicken soup, rotisserie chicken leg quarters, and rotisserie chicken salad.

The products were sold directly to consumers in a Costco located at 1600 El Camino Real, South San Francisco, Calif., between Sept. 24 and Oct. 15, 2013.

Costco and the California Department of Public Health discovered through a follow up investigation to the previous recall that additional product should be recalled. No illnesses have been reported in association with the product being recalled today.

The initial recall was initiated on Oct. 12, 2013 due to concerns about a group of Salmonella Heidelberg illnesses that may be associated with the consumption of rotisserie chicken products prepared in and purchased at the Costco El Camino Real store.. At this time, it appears that the problem may be the result of cross-contamination after the cooking process in the preparation area. FSIS is continuing to work with CDC, public health partners in California and Costco on the investigation.

This group of illnesses is part of a larger cluster of Salmonella Heidelberg illnesses that are known to be multidrug resistant.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall should contact Costco at (800) 774-2678.

FSIS reminds consumers to properly handle raw poultry in a manner to prevent contamination from spreading to other foods and food contact surfaces.

FSIS further reminds consumers of the critical importance of following package cooking instructions for frozen or fresh chicken products and general food safety guidelines when handling and preparing any raw meat or poultry. In particular, while cooking instructions may give a specific number of minutes of cooking for each side of the product in order to attain 165° F internal temperature, consumers should be aware that actual time may vary depending on the cooking method (broiling, frying, or grilling) and the temperature of the product (chilled versus frozen) so it is important that the final temperature of 165° F must be reached for safety. Please do not rely on the cooking time for each side of the product, but use a food thermometer.

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 or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common symptoms of salmonella 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.

Recommendations for Preventing Salmonellosis: Wash hands before and after handling raw meat and poultry with warm/hot (preferred) or cold soapy running water by rubbing hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Also wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot (preferred), soapy water and clean up any spills right away. The mechanical action of vigorous rubbing of hands and utensils/surfaces creates friction that helps to dislodge bacteria and viruses from hands and surfaces. Additionally, warm/hot water helps to dissolve fats/foods, aiding in cleaning/microbe removal and can also assist in deactivation of pathogens. For more information on hand washing, go to http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing. If soapy water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations. However, sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs, including viruses.   Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be thoroughly cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry, and their juices and thoroughly cooked foods.  Thoroughly cook raw meat and poultry to safe internal  temperatures (160º F for ground meat such as beef and pork and 165º F for all poultry, as measured with a food thermometer) before eating. Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase (one hour if temperatures exceed 90º F).  Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking.

MRSA Infects People Near Pig Farms

In a study By John Hopkins they found out that people who live near pig farms, or farms that use pig feces as fertilizer, are more likely to get infections from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA.

Researchers looked at the records of nearly 3,000 patients infected with MRSA and 3,000 controls, mapping out their proximity to swine operations and fertilized fields. What they found was a “significant” association between proximity to swine manure and rates of MRSA infection, according to Joan Casey, an environmental health scientist at John Hopkins.

They found that living close to pigs or their manure accounted for increased risks of 30 percent for healthcare-associated MRSA, 38 percent for community-associated MRSA, and 37 percent for skin and soft-tissue cases.

MRSA can colonize on the skin or inside the nostrils of humans without infecting them, but if those colonies are able to enter the body, such as through a wound, they can cause severe illness.

MRSA and other viruses can be carried by dust through the air in agricultural areas. It can also get into the water near pig farms.

It might be wise if we would disinfect all animal manure before we use it as fertilizer.

USDA Helping Rural Farmers to Develop Renewable Energy

Thursday, August 15th, Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development Doug O’Brien will outline USDA funding for over 600 projects in 42 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce their energy consumption and costs, use renewable energy technologies in their operations and/or conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. Grant and loan funding is made available through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.

In Tanzania where they are doing a similar program the government efforts to enhance rural electrification through renewable energy technologies has began to show positive impact because of growing demand for solar power where recent statistics show that users were currently saving about 60 per cent of the costs of using electricity from the national grid.

Here is the full report:

Agriculture Secretary Announces Projects in 42 States and Two Territories Designed to Improve Farm and Rural Business Energy Efficiency

Secretary Says Future Support Depends on Congressional Action on a New Food, Farm and Jobs Bill

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for 631 projects across the nation - including 45 in North Carolina - that will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce their energy consumption and costs, use renewable energy technologies in their operations and/or conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. Grant and loan funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. With today's announcement, USDA is making investments of more than $21 million in energy projects nationwide. Despite budget uncertainties, USDA remains focused on strengthening the rural economy. "As part of the Obama Administration's 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy, USDA continues to work with America's farmers, ranchers and rural businesses to help them save energy and improve their bottom line," Vilsack said. "This program and others like it would not be available without a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill, and again I urge members of Congress to pass a bill when they return to Washington next month." REAP helps producers reduce energy costs and increase production efficiency. For example: The Tate Family Farm in Climax, N.C., will use a $7,403 grant to install an energy-efficient geothermal system. Yarbro Farms in Lawndale, N.C., was awarded a $15,624 grant to make lighting, heating and insulation improvements to four poultry houses. Butler Farms in Lillington, N.C., was selected to receive a $16,250 grant to upgrade an anaerobic digester system to produce electricity from the farm's waste stream. Farmers, ranchers, business owners and agriculture producers in 41 other states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will also receive funding. For example, Iron Mountain Nursery in Stagecoach, Nev., will use a $12,476 grant to install a 7 kW solar photovoltaic system to provide power for its farm and nursery. This project is expected to generate 13,000 kW of energy annually. Finca Gonzalez, a fruit and vegetable farmer in Lajas, Puerto Rico, will use a $20,000 grant to install a 23 kW photovoltaic system to replace 97 percent of the farm's energy consumption. Under the terms of REAP, up to 25 percent of an eligible energy production or conservation project can be funded through a grant, and additional support can be provided in the form of a loan. Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has helped fund nearly 7,000 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide. Today's announcement includes almost $300,000 in grants to 19 agricultural producers and rural businesses to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems. For example: The Gunnison County Electric Association, Inc., in Gunnison, Colo., will receive a $6,739 grant to assess the feasibility of installing a small hydropower generating plant at the Taylor Reservoir Dam. If built, the plant would generate 4 megawatts of power. Salmon River Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Challis, Idaho, will use a $23,759 grant to determine the feasibility of building a 200 kilowatt gasification system to create electricity out of waste biomass. Pioneer Energy, LLC in Hesperus, Colo., was selected to receive a $25,000 grant to help fund a feasibility study on building a 99 megawatt wind farm near Lake Andes, S.D. View the list of recipients for Rural Energy for America Program feasibility studies. REAP offers financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. These federal funds leverage other private funding sources for businesses. REAP also helps the conservation of natural resources and the development of new forms of energy that reduces America's dependence on fossil fuels and creates a stronger rural economy. View the list of recipients for Rural Energy for America Program grants and loans. Minnesota REAP recipients were previously announced. President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities. USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for the American people, even as the Department implements sequestration - the across-the-board budget reductions mandated under terms of the Budget Control Act.