poisonings

Authorities Have No Idea How Family Bought LSD-Contaminated Beef At Walmart

Authorities Have No Idea How Family Bought LSD-Contaminated Beef At Walmart

How does a package of beef become contaminated with the hallucinogenic drug LSD? Authorities in Florida and in the federal government have been trying to figure that out for the last right months. Last week, local police in Tampa released their report and made the case inactive. They still have no idea how the drug got there. [More]

Is Nutro Ignoring Owners Of Cats Made Sick By Recalled Food?

Is Nutro Ignoring Owners Of Cats Made Sick By Recalled Food?

ConsumerAffairs.com reports that independent tests of the cat food recently recalled by Nutro does indeed contain more zinc than recommended, which was why Nutro recalled the product in the first place. However, Nutro says it’s received no complaints from pet owners, while pet owners have told ConsumerAffairs.com otherwise. They say that Nutro either won’t respond to them or says it’s not responsible for their pets’ illnesses or deaths.

Woman Sprayed With Pesticide Can't Get List Of Chemicals Because They're A Trade Secret

Woman Sprayed With Pesticide Can't Get List Of Chemicals Because They're A Trade Secret

A North Carolina woman out walking her dog last month was sprayed in the face with a gypsy moth pesticide, and subsequently developed “a severe rash and other flu-like symptoms, breathing complications, and nausea for several days.” Unfortunately, her doctor can’t treat her properly because the company that makes the spray won’t tell him what’s in it.

Pet Food Companies Agree To $24 Million Settlement Over Killer Pet Food

Pet Food Companies Agree To $24 Million Settlement Over Killer Pet Food

E.Coli Kills Topps Meat Company

E.Coli Kills Topps Meat Company

Seventeen days after Topps launched the second largest meat recall in U.S. history, the 67-year-old company announced that it’s going out of business. Topp’s COO told American Agriculturist:

“In one week we have gone from the largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen hamburgers to a company that cannot overcome the economic reality of a recall this large… We want to thank our loyal employees and customers who have supported us throughout the 67 years in which Topps Meat has been in business,” D’Urso said. “Topps has always prided itself on providing the utmost quality and safety and never had a recall in our history until now. This has been a shocking and sobering experience for everyone.”

Meat Industry Showing Signs Of Larger Problems

Meat Industry Showing Signs Of Larger Problems

This summer, almost 6 million pounds of beef were recalled due to E. coli contamination. Last week, almost 22 million pounds of frozen hamburger meat were recalled after reports surfaced of E. coli infections. It was the biggest meat recall in 10 years, and “the American Meat Institute (AMI) says it noticed a slight rise in positive E. coli tests by the government this summer,” says a USA Today article. In fact, 2007 is the first time in 3 years that the rate of positive USDA sample-tests have gone up. At the same time, the Chicago Tribune reports that in July, a congressman from Minnesota slipped a special measure into the 2007 farm bill that would reduce the need for federal inspections for small meat producers.

The Week in Product Recalls: Poisonings, Burns, Strangulations, Deadly Chickens

The Week in Product Recalls: Poisonings, Burns, Strangulations, Deadly Chickens

Hazard: “The recalled charms contain high levels of lead, posing a serious risk of lead poisoning and adverse health effects to young children.”