Santa Clarita Personal Injury Lawyer - Food Poisoning

Don't Eat the Sushi

Susy Owen — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:55:39 GMT

Bad new for sushi lovers. Recent laboratory studies conducted on the sushi tuna in 20 Manhattan stores and restaurants have found mercury levels that exceed the acceptable levels of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"No one should eat a meal of tuna with mercury levels like those found in the restaurant samples more than about once every three weeks," said Dr. Michael Gochfeld, professor of environmental and occupational medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, N.J. The tuna that was sampled was bluefin, and although these particular samples were in New York City, experts believe if tests were conducted in other areas there would be similar finding. Mercury can cause a health risk for pregnant women and children. It is also believed that individuals who consume mercury have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and neurological symptoms.

Additional Information Pertaining to Defective and Dangerous Products

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Kraft Recalls White Choclate

Susy Owen — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:49:39 GMT

Kraft Foods has recalled Baker's Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares (6 oz.) with a UPC Code 0043000252200. The recall is specific to the following four best-when-used-by dates:

31 MAR 2008 XCZ
01 APR 2008 XCZ
02 APR 2008 XCZ
03 APR 2008 XCZ

It is feared that the product may contain Salmonella.

Salmonella is dangerous. It can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections. The elderly, young and people with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk. At this time, no other varieties of Baker's White Chocolate or any other Baker's products sold in the United States are involved in the recall.

Additional information pertaining to defective and dangerous products

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Beans May be Contaminated with Botulism

Susy Owen — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:34:14 GMT

Another warning from the FDA - don't eat the beans- not the French Cut Green Beans in 14.5 ounce cans manufactured by Lakeside Foods Inc, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin brand anyway. It appears that there is concern that there may be botulism present.

As many are aware, botulism is extremely potent and is defiantly life-threatening. "The symptoms may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness that moves progressively down the body, affecting the shoulders first then descending to the upper arms, lower arms, thighs, and calves. Botulism also may cause paralysis of the breathing muscles, ..."

Please go on the link to see a list of affected products. Should you have any questions, you can reach the company at 800 466-3834 ext. 4090

For more information on this subject matter please review our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Food-poisoning Reports Triple -Traced to Taste Booth

Susy Owen — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:47:45 GMT

On Thursday, Health Department officials received reports from as many as 126 people who were complaining of illness. By Friday the reports had tripled, and 12 people had to be hospitalized, one as young as 18 months. The reports were coming from people who had eaten at Pars Cove booth at Taste of Chicago. According to officials, there are 32 confirmed illnesses from salmonella heidelberg. Additional lab tests are pending.

As a result of the reports, the City Health Department stopped the establishment from serving hummus. As Mike Bambouyani, one of the owners of the restaurant at 435 W. Diversey, put it "One person sick is one too many. We are trying to get to the bottom of this." So far, the problem food has been determined to be an herb tomato cucumber salad that was served on hummus, city officials said." The investigation is ongoing.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Pet Owners Blog on Pet Food Recall Issues

Susy Owen — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:12:52 GMT

As soon as Menu Foods began their massive recall of contaminated pet food on March 16, a popular website for animal lovers - www.petconnection.com - began providing information to alert people as to what was going on and providing them with information they would need.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 56% of U.S. households are pet owners. I believe it is safe to say, people feel that they have been betrayed, and rightly so. It is clear that information was not disclosed immediately to the unsuspecting public. It was also abudently clear early on that reports on pet food recall issues were lacking at best. People were insulted by claims that fewer than 20 animal deaths had been reported. So, an online data base was created. Pet owners began to list their pets, symptoms and the like. From that source of information alone more believable numbers started to emerge such as 2,527 cats and 2,365 dogs dead to date. With all the heartbreak that is occurring due to tainted pet food, it renews ones faith in mankind to see how much these folks care.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Pet Food Contamination - U. S. Company's Disclosure

Susy Owen — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:48:27 GMT

It is no secret that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) learned on March 15 that dogs and cats were being adversely affected by the ingestion of certain pet foods. Upon investigation, the FDA found contaminants in vegetable proteins, which had been imported from China. The recall prompted congressional hearings, not to mention scrutiny of China's current manufacturing processes.

Since March, the information pertaining to the pet food recall broadens and changes as the investigations and disclosures continue. The recent disclosure by Uniscope is no exception to that trend. Officials with the Food and Drug Administration were contacted approximately two weeks ago. The FDA was informed by Uniscope that malamine, the same industrial chemical that led to a massive pet food recall, was used in animal feed ingredients made by Tembec BTLSR Inc. of Toledo, Ohio, and used by Uniscope Inc. of Johnstown, Colorado.

Prior to this disclosure, melamine in animal feed was thought to be contained to China, where manufacturers have admitted to adding it to wheat gluten in order to give a false protein reading. In response to this disclosure, U.S. officials said the use of melamine in animal feed posed no threat to people. Who's feeling comfortable?

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Pet Food Contamination - Investigation Continues

Susy Owen — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:23:35 GMT

Due to pet food contamination, in April, China banned melamine, the ingredient that contaminated pet food. China has also announced that it would cooperate with U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Perhaps because they knew an announcement from the FDA was coming, ChemNutra announced publicly that their facility had been searched by the FDA.

The FDA are in the process of determining whether Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act has been violated by ChemNutra. Under the doctrine of "strict liability" ChemNutra could be held responsible for the contaminated product that they provided to Menu Foods, regardless of whether they know about the fact that it was indeed contaminated.

Strict liability is a legal doctrine that makes a person responsible for the damage and loss caused by their acts and omissions regardless of culpability. In criminal law, strict liability is liability for which mens rea (Latin for "guilty mind") does not have to be proved. That is not to say that ChemNutra did not know much more than they are admitting to, but that may not need to be proved in order to hold them, and perhaps others, accountable.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Tainted Pet Food Recall Reaches Costco

Susy Owen — Tue, 15 May 2007 15:51:10 GMT

Costco has now joined a voluntary pet food recall in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration. The products involved in the recall contain rice protein and could potentially contain the chemical 'malamine," which is used as a fertilizer and in plastics.

The pet food in question is 'Kirkland Signature Lamb and Rice canned dog food.' The focus is on 2-Flavor Variety Pack. The item number is No. 38436. Additionally, the package reads "Best if used by Apr 15 09." Costco will refund any of this potentially tainted pet food that is returned to them.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Tainted Pet Food - Getting to the Bottom of it

Susy Owen — Fri, 11 May 2007 17:32:21 GMT

At this point and time the details are sketchy. However, it appears that two of the Chinese companies that produce the tainted products that made their way to the mouths of our beloved pets, have had their managers detained by the Chinese government. This comes on the heels of an investigation here in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration

Unbelievably, the pet food recall involves almost 100 brands of tainted pet food. The media in China are reporting that a disgraced former leading drug regulator is up on charges and will go on trial. They are reporting that he is accused of taking bribes to approve untested medicine.

While this type of selfishness and greed is going on, a huge number of animals have suffered and many have died due to consuming tainted pet food. I believe it was Ghandi who once said " you can determine the morality of a society by the way they treat their animals." So true.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

China Deliberately Adds Poison to Pet Food

Susy Owen — Tue, 01 May 2007 12:02:33 GMT

Since the pet food recall began in mid-March, pet owners have lived a nightmare. They have been forced to watch their animal friends die. The helpless animals that have not already died are seriously injured and/or near death and are fighting to stay alive.

The chemical melamine, which is one of the chemicals that has been found in pet food, has apparently been used for years by the Chinese in order to supplement animal feed. According to the New York Times, "The melamine powder has been dubbed 'fake protein' and is used to deceive those who raise animals into thinking they are buying feed that provides higher nutritional value." It has also been reported from inside China, albeit not by the Chinese government, that in China, this practice is widespread. Although the Chinese government denies these reports, on Friday the same government banned the use of melamine in wheat gluten, rice protein and other vegetable proteins which are either exported from China or used in China. A move that is both contradictory and telling. Stay tuned for more on contaminated pet food.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen