The New York Times says that China’s state-controlled media has admitted that “one of China’s biggest dairy producers received consumer complaints about its baby milk formula as early as December 2007 — much earlier than previously thought and nine months before the producer ordered a nationwide recall because of concerns that the formula had been adulterated with a toxic industrial chemical.”
Melamine Tainted Dairy Products Sicken 53,000 Children, Nearly 13,000 Hospitalized
By September 22, 2008
China’s chief quality supervisor was replaced today as the total number of children sickened from dairy products tainted with melamine (the same substance that was found in contaminated pet food last year) grew to 53,000. Nearly 13,000 children have been hospitalized and 4 have died. Products manufactured by 22 companies were found to contain melamine, says Bloomberg.
10,000 Babies May Have Consumed Poison Milk
By September 15, 2008
Remember melamine, last year’s pet-killing poison? It’s back with a vengeance, and this year it wants Chinese babies. As many as 10,000 may have consumed melamine-laced milk powder, according to authorities. Even worse, a New Zealand company detected the poison weeks ago but couldn’t convince local officials to issue a recall. Only after New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark demanded action did the Chinese recall the death milk.
E. Coli: FDA Will Allow Spinach, Lettuce To Be Irradiated
By August 22, 2008
For the first time ever, the FDA is going to allow manufacturers to irradiate produce at levels that can kill bacteria that causes food-borne illness, says the New York Times. The produce in question, spinach and iceberg lettuce, have, in recent years, been linked to widespread outbreaks of serious illnesses.
Whole Foods Recalls Previously Recalled Meat. What?
By August 9, 2008
Whole Foods apparently never got that June memo to chuck Nebraska Beef contaminated with E. coli. The posh-man’s bodega announced yesterday that they are recalling the previously-recalled beef, which Whole Foods sold between June 2 and August 6. The contaminated beef has popped up in 24 states and sickened 49 people. Noted food safety litigator Bill Marler shows us that being a lawyer can be fun by posing six amusingly litigious questions for Whole Foods…
Aquadots, The Infamous "GHB-Laced Toys," Are Back With A New Name, "Pixos"!
By July 18, 2008
Reader Maya noticed that those GHB-laced toys (distributed in North America by Spin Master) that were recalled last year are back, and they’ve got a brand new name. Pixos!
So, We're Probably Never Going To Know Where The Salmonella Came From
By June 23, 2008
The FDA still has no real idea where those salmonella tomatoes came from. They suspect both Mexico and Florida, but as you may have noticed: Florida and Mexico are kind of big. And there’s no real evidence aside from a guess by the FDA based on the “time frame” of the outbreak matching up with the harvest in those locations.
Salmonella Outbreak: Which Tomatoes Are Safe?
By June 10, 2008
McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, Burger King, Outback Steakhouse and Taco Bell have all pulled their fresh tomatoes after 145 people have become ill with salmonellosis, including 23 hospitalizations. The illnesses have been linked to certain types of tomatoes, but not all tomatoes, so here’s a helpful cheat sheet that will keep you salmonella-free:
Recall: 286,000 lbs of Meat Used In Sandwich Wraps Contaminated With Listeria
By May 5, 2008
Gourmet Boutique, of Queens, NY is recalling 286,000 lbs of possibly contaminated meat used in sandwich wraps and other ready-to-eat products, says the USDA. This is the second recall of this type for the company. In March they recalled 7,000 lbs of meat for possible listeria contamination.
Spinach Facilities Are Unsafe, Disgusting And The FDA Doesn't Care
By March 27, 2008
If you like spinach you might not want to read a new report from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called “FDA and Fresh Spinach Safety.”
There's Salmonella In The Cantaloupes!
By March 25, 2008
The FDA is detaining shipments of “cantaloupe from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower and packer, because, based on current information, fruit from this company appears to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the United States and Canada.”
Reebok To Pay $1 Million Fine After Lead Poisoning Death
By March 18, 2008
Two years ago athletic shoe giant Reebok announced a recall of 300,000 lead tainted charm bracelets that were given away as free gifts with the purchase of children’s footwear.
Don't Eat The Botulism Tainted Asiago Cheese Dip, Please
By February 6, 2008
There are some jars of Olivier brand Parmesan & Asiago Dip with Garlic & Basil floating around that are possibly tainted with botulism, so you’ll want to check your cupboards.
CPSC Boss: Toys "Are Safer Than They Have Ever Been"
By January 16, 2008
Consumer Reports takes issue with some of the statements CPSC chairperson Nancy Nord said in a recent speech:
By December 29, 2007
Texas: 14,800 pounds of stolen ground beef may be contaminated with E. coli, says the USDA. So, uh, just for now, don’t buy any ground beef from the back of a truck. [Reuters]
Meat Industry Discovers Consumers' Trust Has Eroded
By December 18, 2007
The meat and poultry industries have learned that if you poison your customers enough times, they’ll eventually start losing trust in you—although, oddly, they won’t change their purchasing habits. That’s the takeaway from a study carried out by Meatingplace.com (snicker) and “its sister publication POULTRY” (ha ha WHERE’S CHRIS HANSON). However, no description of the study is provided other than that Zoomerang.com was used, so we’re not sure if the results are at all meaningful. We’re just glad the meat industry is starting to notice something’s wrong.
Dangerous Toys Helping Walmart?
By December 7, 2007
Parents are staying away from small toys this holiday season, says a survey from America’s Research Group, and planning instead to buy more expensive tech items.
The First Lead Related Holiday Ornament Recall Of The Season Is Here!
By November 28, 2007
The first retailer to be mentioned in a holiday ornament recall this year is JC Penney! The ornament in question was sold at “various retailers nationwide, including JC Penney catalog and Web site, from July 2006 through October 2007 for between $15 and $18.”
