The four month old salmonella outbreak (here, here) that has already claimed at least five lives seems now to be an "ingredient" affair. The ingredient is peanut butter made in a Georgia plant of the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) and sold to food distributors in bulk for use in institutions and not to consumers but also as as a peanut paste ingredient used other foods like cookies, crackers, cereal, candy, ice cream, baked goods or cooking sauces that are sold to consumers. As a result, CDC is now advising consumers to postpone eating products that contain peanut butter (such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream) until they know more which products might be affected. Meanwhile some manufacturers, like Kellogg Company, acted quickly (and kudos to Kellogg):
A peanut butter supplier concern caused Kellogg Co. to put a precautionary hold on its Austin and Keebler Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers; Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Crackers; Cheese and Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers; and Peanut Butter-Chocolate Sandwich Crackers. [Reuters also reports the recall includes Famous Amos and Keebler Soft Batch cookies].The FDA and other regulatory agencies indicated Peanut Corp. of America (PCA) is the focus of their investigation concerning a recent Salmonella outbreak thought to be caused by tainted peanut butter, the company reported. PCA is one of several peanut paste suppliers Kellogg uses in its Austin and Keebler peanut butter sandwich crackers.
Kellogg Co.'s investigation has not indicated any concerns, nor has the company received any consumer illness complaints about these products.
Nonetheless, Kellogg Co. is taking precautionary measures, including putting a hold on any inventory in its control, removing product from retail store shelves, and encouraging consumers to hold and not eat these products until regulatory officials complete their investigation of PCA and Kellogg provides further information regarding a resolution. (Convenience Store News)
This is a classic case of what happens when a contaminated product enters an industrial food production high upstream in the chain. The contaminated peanut butter was sold in containers ranging from 5 to 1700 pounds and the peanut paste in 35 pound to tanker sized containers (Maggie Fox, Reuters). At this point we don't know if the salmonella was introduced at the PCA plant or from one of its growers, but the result so far is close to 500 cases, a score of hospitalizations and five deaths in which salmonella may have played a part. PCA has recalled all peanut butter made after early August and peanut paste made after early September in their Georgia plant.
Kellogg is to be commended for their pro-active policy, but we shouldn't be depending upon every company to do the right thing. There is something wrong when the FDA doesn't know where elements of the food chain are winding up. If it is important enough to inspect and monitor for contamination (and it is important enough, although for this administration not important enough to do it properly), then it is important enough to find out where all this stuff is being used and where it goes. Because we don't know this we have to make urgent inquiries and try to figure it out (which is what FDA and CDC is doing now) or wait for sick people to show up and alert us. The food safety system is neither adequate and what exists is broken.
CDC doesn't believe the salmonella is growing in the peanut butter (there's probably not enough available water) but that nothing in the processing is killing it either. Once it enters the body it can start growing again in the intestine and cause infection. Usually food poisoning infections from this kind of salmonella requires very substantial inocula, implying there is a lot of the organism already in the product. CDC doesn't consider peanut butter a typical vehicle for salmonella, but this is the third large peanut butter outbreak, so maybe it's time to put it on the radar screen.
Another example of what happens when government doesn't do a job only government can do. Maybe things will get improve, now. They'd better, because our food safety system is in a downward spiral.
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At least this was actual contamination.
Melamine in feed or food, or coal ash in the gypsum making up drywall, has been called 'contamination' by the MSM. It is instead deliberate adulteration with industrial waste.
Does anyone know if any of the people coming down with the salmonella poisoning are 1) allergic to peanuts 2) have not eaten any peanut butter or peanut product?
People who are allergic to peanuts would never eat peanuts or peanut type product. Adults with allergies are very versed in knowing what to stay away from.
If any people are coming down with the salmonella who are allergic to peanuts...well...then...one would have to think that the CDC needs to look further for the contamination.
question for the, ehem, peanut gallery:
would it make sense to start irradiating food products again, to try and kill off latent contaminants like these before the final product is shipped to distributors and retailers?
(do we even know, any longer, what sorts of radiation doses it would take to kill salmonella in ready-to-eat foods?)
on second googling, my mistake: it seems we already are using irradiation to try and control infectious contamination of foodstuffs. for some odd reason i had believed that had been banned. turns out it hasn't; never mind me.
Another example of what happens when government doesn't do a job only government can do.
What exactly is the 'job that only government can do'? Government is not omniscient, it does not have magic powers to see what was not detected by quality control systems. This kind of response is amazingly naive given the general incompetence of our government keeping their own house in order.
RE: Salmonella and Peanut Products
With the introduction of microbial (biological) pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, etc. that are being put on food crops and used for insect control, there has been an increase in human and animal illnesses, we did not have these problems to this extent before. First it was lettuce, then tomatoes, animal feed and now we have Salmonella found in ****PEANUT**** products.
How much longer and how many people have to die or get sick before the question is raised AND INVESTIGATED whether biological pesticides, fungicides, insecticides etc. are perhaps the reason for the continual problems with Salmonella and E coli being found on human and animal food? And yes, these are used on "peanuts" (as well as lettuce, tomatoes etc.) [Links validating this can be found under, "Further, microbial pesticide stating "use for peanuts" section]
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs; Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division's "preprinted" form 8570-6 in itself is compelling evidence their could be a problem with contamination from bacteria and/or fungus from microbial bio-pesticides, bio-insecticides, bio-fungicides etc:
"After fermentation and prior to further processing, each batch must be tested for the following microbial contaminants and have levels below those listed:
E. coli/Coliform Bacteria
****Salmonella****
Shigella
Staphlococci
Vibrio
Yeast
Mold"
The EPA form 8570-6 (1 of 4) can be found at http://www.biotechawareness.com/images/conditional_registration_aq_qst_…
The following were some of the reasons the biological research and development company "DID NOT" received full registration from the EPA, but only received a conditional time-limited registration from the EPA Director [of] Biopesticides and Pollution Provention Division, Janet L. Anderson. [ Further stated on the above EPA form 8570-6 is very clear in stating:
"The submitted manufacturing process did not have sufficient quality control required for all fermentation batches" [page 1]
Manufacturing Process
1) A formal submission that clearly describes new quality control steps taken to assure consistent CFU/g values and limit microbial impurities in the Technical Powder. [page 2]
[The EPA also discussed: ]
*death in Freshwater Aquatic Invertebrate [page 2]
question of Bacillus Subtilis infection in shrimp [page 2]
*questions of death to "HONEY BEES" [page 3]
*not meeting guidelines requirements in submission (studies) on the toxicity and pathogenicity to "FRESH WATER FISH" [page 2]
[There were definite concerns within the EPA with respect to "microbial impurities". How then, can we be 100% sure that 'each batch' of microbial formulations used on food crops and/or used for insect control does not contain "microbial impurities" as well?]
____
[Further, microbials stating "use for ****PEANUTS****"]:
...
Serenade Max (page 10):
Use Sites: Terrestrial Food: cherry, cucurbits, grapes, hops, leafy vegetables (except Brassica), ****PEANUTS****, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, walnut
...following crops in various countries: almonds, crookneck and acorn squash, watermelon, mushroom, nectarine, ****PEANUTS****, pistachio, potato, strawberry, and tomato.
http://www.cdms.net/LDat/ld6UP002.pdf
_____________________________________________
COMMERCIAL BIOCONTROL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.A. FOR USE AGAINST PLANT PATHOGENS
__
Serenade / Rhapsody/ Serenade Garden
Biocontrol Agent: Bacillus subtilis QWT713
Crop: cucurbits, grapes, hops, vegetables, ****PEANUTS****, pome fruits, stone fruits, and others
Formulation: wettable powder
Application: spray
__
Sonata
Biocontrol Agent: Bacillus pumilus
Crop: cucurbits, grapes, hops, vegetables, ****PEANUTS****, pome fruits, stone fruits, and others
Formulation: wettable powder
Application: spray
__
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/apsbcc/productlist2005USA.htm
I remember shortly after 9/11, people were saying how much damage could be done by terrorists contaminating food and water supplies. Apparently, after 8 years and hundreds of billions if not trillions spent, all we seem to be able to do to combat terrorism is find who is reading what books, look at their credit card payments, monitor bank accounts and wire transfers, monitor your internet activity, and listen in on telephone conversations, not to mention confiscate your bottled water at airports so you can buy a bottle of water in the airport, and go to war against a country who had nothing to do with 9/11 (Iraq)and expand Afghan poppy production. Bin Laden productions is operating fine in whatever cave he is hiding in.
Food security improvement, not much, except of course preventing testing for mad cow disease.
One problem with irradiation is that human nature is such that producer, processor and inspector will become lax leading to much higher levels of contamination.
A second problem with irradiation is that all machines break down at some point...what happens when the machine breaks down and no one notices?
Answer: Much larger outbreaks.
er, tom... those same two points could be raised about anything we do to try and prevent or alleviate foodstuff contamination. should we do nothing because anything we try might fail?
No where in Tom DVM's comment did I read into it that he was suggesting should we do nothing
Question: would the process of turning peanuts into peanut powder kill the salmonella? If not, has there been any word of them selling to companies that make powdered PB?
I'd email the source of my powdered PB (good in sauces, hot cereal, cookies, etc.), except I suspect they'd confidently tell me their PB powder was safe, even if they had no basis to know.
Greetings from the boonies Revere.....
There is Plague in Algeria at an Al-Qaeda training camp.
Tizi Ouzou Province.....
Weaponized or walking bioweapons..... Thats the question. Its doubtful that they just turned up with it.
Someone screwed up and there are as many as 40 cases.
Back to the post....
Kellog's, Nadbisco, Nestle's and most other US companies are using tainted ingredients from China thats why the we have a salmonella outbreak, there will be more food poison outbreaks to come, most processed foods frozen chicken, beef, pizzas, etc are all processed in China, wonder what a Chinese beef slaughter house or a chicken farm with all chickens having the avian flu looks like.
Doubt you'll see this MRK but your presence is missed.
Sailingwindward: Exactly, and yet little is done to improve / enhance Country of Origin of all ingredients contained within the product.
That in its self would most likely take up a great deal of space on the label. We did product labeling appearance in college and it's all about appealing to the buyer's eye.
I left this comment on the previous entry, but it was probably not seen. I believe that after the ConAgra peanut butter salmonella outbreak two years ago, that the FDA was supposed to add peanut butter to its list of high risk foods. I believe that they were also supposed to step up inspections at peanut butter plants. Does anyone know if the FDA did either one of those things?
Thanks.
Marymary; I don't know about FDA, but CDC did not consider (and maybe still doesn't) consider peanut butter a high risk food for salmonella.
Thanks for the information, revere. If I can find a link to something about the FDA moving peanut butter onto its list of high-risk foods, I will post it.
An article that was posted soon after the ConAgra peanut butter salmonella outbreak:
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/00738/peanut-butter-myste…
Bit of a delay on this, but re: #1 (Ken) It's not just melamine content, but melamine in addition to cyanuric acid (an impurity of melamine used as a feed additive for ruminant animals) which actually causes the problems with infant formula and pet foods. Of course that isn't to say that the adding of a product to boost apparent protein content isn't a despicable practice.
WHO has a good Risk Assessment Guide available: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/fs_management/Melamine.pdf
Regarding melamine being an industrial waste, you may not be too far off the mark, but that doesn't stop manufacturers from using it. Besides, it's allowed.
(From above link)
Melamine (CAS No. 108-78-1) is used in the production of melamine resins, typically by reaction with formaldehyde. It has many industrial uses, including in the production of laminates, glues, adhesives, moulding compounds, coatings and flame retardants.
In the US melamine is an indirect food additive for use only as a component of adhesives.
[21 CFR 175.105; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr as of June 18, 2007 ]
Melamine was also found as a metabolite of the pesticide cyromazine in plants, goats, hens and rats (JMPR Report 2006). Melamine is also used in some fertilizers.
Mmm. Tasty.
How much longer is it going to take, and how many more people and animals have to get sick and/or die before the world admits there is a definite connection with bio-control products; used on diseases of plants and insect control as the culprit?
First there was melamine which caused panic throughout the world. We were quick to blame China for this problem. Then there was e-coli and salmonella outbreaks which has been found in spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupe, peanuts and now sprouts.
As far as melamine is concerned; I am finding that biotechnology companies have been using melamine for micro capsule's (of fungus, bacteria, virus) for long term pest control in biopesticides, biofungicides, bioinsecticides etc. for a long time.
I refer you to only one patent which reveals this; United States Patent 6506397 - which in part states:
Abstract:
The present invention features a sustained-release microcapsule for long-term pest controlling. In general, a microcapsule has a capsule core including active pest-control ingredients and diluents, and a capsule shell which physically separates the capsule core from the surrounding medium. Diluents are arranged to entrap active ingredients therein and to provide resistance to mass transfer of the active ingredients therethrough. The capsule shell generally includes the shell pores and provides additional resistance to mass transfer of the active ingredient therethrough. Diluents are selected from a class of material such that the mass transfer resistances existing in the capsule core and/or capsule shell depend on the temperature of the surrounding medium.
23. Microcapsule according to claim 21, wherein said capsule shell is formed by condensation of formaldehyde with at least one of urea and melamine at a pH lower than 7.0.
(PLEASE REFER TO MY POST ABOVE; Posted by: ST | January 18, 2009 7:04 PM
WHEN IS THIS MADNESS GOING TO STOP????
How much longer is it going to take, and how many more people and animals have to get sick and/or die before the world admits there is a definite connection with bio-control products; used on diseases of plants and insect control as the culprit?
First there was melamine which caused panic throughout the world. We were quick to blame China for this problem. Then there was e-coli and salmonella outbreaks which has been found in spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupe, peanuts and now sprouts.
As far as melamine is concerned; I am finding that biotechnology companies have been using melamine for micro capsule's (of fungus, bacteria, virus) for long term pest control in biopesticides, biofungicides, bioinsecticides etc. for a long time.
I refer you to only one patent which reveals this; United States Patent 6506397 - which in part states:
Abstract:
The present invention features a sustained-release microcapsule for long-term pest controlling. In general, a microcapsule has a capsule core including active pest-control ingredients and diluents, and a capsule shell which physically separates the capsule core from the surrounding medium. Diluents are arranged to entrap active ingredients therein and to provide resistance to mass transfer of the active ingredients therethrough. The capsule shell generally includes the shell pores and provides additional resistance to mass transfer of the active ingredient therethrough. Diluents are selected from a class of material such that the mass transfer resistances existing in the capsule core and/or capsule shell depend on the temperature of the surrounding medium.
23. Microcapsule according to claim 21, wherein said capsule shell is formed by condensation of formaldehyde with at least one of urea and melamine at a pH lower than 7.0.
(PLEASE REFER TO MY POST ABOVE; Posted by: ST | January 18, 2009 7:04 PM