Monthly Archives: September 2016

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

FDA/USDA ~~ September Alerts & Safety


Bunge’s Meats Recalls Pork Products Formulated With Water That Did Not EPA Meet Drinking Water StandardsBunge’s Meats, a Catawissa, Penn. establishment, is recalling an undetermined amount of pork sausage products that were produced with water that did not meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) drinking water standards. 

Tucson Tamale Wholesale Company, LLC Recalls Beef Tamale Products Containing Meat Produced Without Benefit of Federal InspectionTucson Tamale Wholesale Company, LLC, a Tucson, Ariz. establishment, is recalling approximately 915 pounds of beef tamale products that contain meat produced without the benefit of federal inspection.

09/14/2016 09:40 PM EDT

Virtus Pharmaceuticals Opco II, LLC (Virtus) is voluntarily recalling seven batches of Hyoscyamine sulfate (0.125mg) listed in the table below, to the consumer level which include the tablet, sublingual, and orally disintegrating tablet form. This recall is being initiated due to both superpotent and subpotent test results. All of these batches were manufactured by Pharmatech LLC for distribution by Virtus throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

09/15/2016 12:25 PM EDT

SM Fish Corp. of Far Rockaway, NY, is voluntarily recalling OSSIE’S brand ready-to-eat salads because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

09/09/2016 05:23 PM EDT

Publix Super Markets of Lakeland, Florida, is issuing a voluntary recall for Apple Coffee Cakes due to the possible presence of small metal shavings. The Apple Coffee Cakes were sold at Publix bakery departments in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and the following counties in Florida: Alachua, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota.

Updated information is now available. A list of retail consignees has been posted for recall 078-2016, PT Farm, LLC Recalls Lamb Products Due To Possible E. Coli Contamination (Sep 9, 2016).

 

MIH Marketing and Sales Recalls Meat and Poultry Products Due To Insanitary ConditionsMIH Marketing and Sales, a Beebe, AR. establishment, is recalling approximately 662,049 pounds of various meat and poultry products that were stored under insanitary conditions.

09/08/2016 05:52 PM EDT

The Morrison Milling Company of Denton, Texas has initiated a recall of The Baker’s Scoop HEB 100% Whole Wheat Flour due the possibility of the presence of soft nylon fragments of mesh resembling white hair, caused by a faulty screen at our production facility.

 

PT Farm, LLC Recalls Lamb Products Due To Possible E. Coli Contamination PT Farm, LLC, a North Haverhill, N.H. establishment, is recalling approximately 15 pounds of lamb products that may be contaminated with E. coli.

09/09/2016 12:33 PM EDT

Novo Nordisk Inc. is recalling six batches of the GlucaGen® HypoKit® in the U.S. due to two customer complaints from the UK and Portugal involving detached needles on the syringe with Sterile Water for Injection (SWFI). GlucaGen® HypoKit® is indicated for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in patients with diabetes who are treated with insulin. A syringe with a detached needle cannot be used as prescribed

Asher’s Chocolates/Lewistown, Inc., an affiliated partner of Chester A. Asher Inc. (“Asher’s”) is initiating a voluntary recall of multiple chocolates, chocolate bars, cellophane wrapped chocolates, and individually wrapped chocolates, etc. under the Asher’s brand due to possible Salmonella contamination of items produced in their Lewistown, PA facility distributed nationwide.
09/02/2016 05:00 PM EDT

Kinetic Technologies and Kinetic Vet located in Lexington, KY has voluntarily recalled Hy-Optic – lot # 10092015, OptiVet – lot # 12032015 and Optimend – lot # 01122015. This voluntary recall is the result of deficiencies in sterility, which may lead to deteriorating eye conditions, irritation and/or infection.

09/02/2016 04:59 PM EDT

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is voluntarily recalling one date code of Wegmans Italian Classics Striped Ricotta & Spinach Ravioli, 9 oz. (UPC # 0-77890-38934), sold between Tuesday, Aug. 2 and Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 because the product may contain pieces of white plastic.

Think antibacterial soaps reduce your risk of getting an infection? Not necessarily, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There’s no data demonstrating that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water.
That’s why the FDA is issuing a final rule under which over-the-counter consumer antiseptic wash products (including liquid, foam, gel hand soaps, bar soaps, and body washes) containing the majority of the antibacterial active ingredients—including triclosan and triclocarban—will no longer be able to be marketed.

Read the Consumer Update to learn more.

Frontier Co-op is initiating a voluntary recall for the following Aura Cacia Milk & Oat Bath products. Recalled products were sold online and in stores in all 50 states and in some parts of Canada to distributors, retailers and consumers. This voluntary recall is the result of FDA testing that revealed an elevated microorganism count in Aura Cacia Lavender Milk & Oat Bath.
Summit Import Corp., at 100 Summit Place, Jersey City, New Jersey, is recalling Yu Yee brand Black Pepper Powder packed in clear plastic 19.4oz bottles under lot No. WH76 because it was found contain Salmonella an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune system
Magic Gourmet Trading Inc. of Millbrae, CA is recalling all Koi Palace Mooncake products purchased in August 2016 because these items do not contain proper labeling of ingredients and possible allergens. Mooncake products manufactured by Magic Gourmet contain possible allergens such as wheat, gluten, eggs, milk, peanuts, pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, and/or sesame.
Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall of Entenmann’s Little Bites Fudge Brownies (5 pack), Chocolate Chip Muffins (5 pack and 10 pack boxes)and Variety Pack (20 pack) due to the presence of small pieces of plastic caused by a manufacturing failure at a contract manufacturer’s bakery in Illinois.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates microwave ovens. These ovens are generally safe when used correctly. But people have experienced burns, and in rare cases, other injuries from microwave radiation, particularly in cases involving improper use or maintenance. So always use your microwave oven properly and maintain it as recommended by the user manual.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Walmart fired me for being pregnant!


Arleja Stephens just started a petition to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon stating:

Walmart must, in the next nine months, create an inclusive policy that RESPECTS and PROTECTS all pregnant Walmart workers.
Arleja Stephens, mother, and her child

 

I just started a petition titled “Walmart fired me for being pregnant. Let’s protect Walmart pregnant employees from discrimination!”

Here’s why this is important:

My name is Arleja Stephens, and I stand with the thousands of pregnant workers who have been unfairly fired, discriminated against, or mistreated by Walmart— one of the largest employers of African-American and Latina women in the United States.

Stand with me and support pregnant Walmart workers!

I worked at a Washington, DC, Walmart as a customer service manager in order to support myself and my growing family. Enduring a high-risk pregnancy, I required some time to take care of the medical needs and stress that came along with it. Rather than supporting me, Walmart decided to fire me for my absences— even after I presented credible doctor’s notes. Walmart said it did not matter.

Make no mistake: Walmart’s decision to fire me goes directly against the new policy for pregnant workers that Walmart claims to have put in place. Walmart may have even violated Washington, DC’s law protecting the sick time of pregnant women.

Walmart cannot be trusted to follow its own policies— let alone DC’s law guarding the rights and safety of pregnant workers. Stand with me and tell Walmart to create a policy that truly respects and protests pregnant workers. 

My experience is not an isolated incident; I am not alone. Women across the country reported that Walmart does not allow time off for doctor appointments, that they are not given light work as an accommodation, and that they are scared they will lose their jobs if they speak up or ask for help.

In 2014, after Walmart workers and labor rights groups advocated for pregnant Walmart workers nationally with the “Respect the Bump” campaign, the retailer announced a pregnancy policy that would be more accommodating to pregnant workers. Sadly, two years have passed since Walmart unveiled that pregnancy policy, and many pregnant workers are still being mistreated.

Why is this continuing to happen when Walmart claims to have policies to protect pregnant workers?

Walmart is the largest employer of African Americans in the country. Young, Black, working mothers, like me, deserve better. We should not be forced to choose between a healthy pregnancy and the ability to provide for their families.

Sign our petition to demand Walmart treat their pregnant workers with RESPECT. Walmart must, in the next nine months, create a more inclusive policy that RESPECTS and PROTECTS all pregnant Walmart workers.

Thank you,

Arleja Stephens
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Save the Date: #Prep2Grow Twitter Chat


Public Health Emergency. Resilient People. Healthy Communities. A Nation Prepared.

From the ASPR Blog:  Why some emerging infectious diseases cause epidemics

Forty years ago, a patient exhibiting symptoms believed to be from malaria sought treatment in a small village in the Republic of the Congo in Africa. Later, it was determined this patient didn’t suffer from malaria, but from a virus that would cause a major disease outbreak decades later and more than 1,000 miles away: Ebola.  So why do some infectious diseases turn into epidemics while others don’t?  George Korch, Senior Science Advisor for ASPR, explains 5 key factors that enable some viruses to cause epidemics.   Learn More >>

Top 10 Zika Response Planning Tips: Brief Information for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Health Officials

Planning to respond to the Zika outbreak is can be challenging, but CDC has tools, resources, and guidance for state, tribal, local, and territorial health officials on preparing for Zika. Check out CDC’s Top 10 Zika Response Planning Tips to help you get started. Learn More >>

Preparing together across generations

Disasters can be particularly hard for young children and older adults.  As you think about ways that you plan to keep all of the people who matter to you healthy in a disaster, consider how their needs may change.  Whether you are planning to keep little ones safe or you are starting a conversation with older parents about what you will do to help each other when a disaster strikes, check out these resources to help you prepare across generations. Learn More >>

Reducing Antibiotic Resistance:  What You Can Do

Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections. But there are steps that each of us can take every day – like washing your hands and staying up-to-date with vaccines – that can help slow the spread of antibiotic resistance.  Find out what you can do every day, when your sick, when you travel, and more to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance. Learn More >>