Source | FDA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Elizabeth, NJ — October 10, 2007 — Vintage Chocolates Inc. of Elizabeth, New Jersey is recalling 4,455 bars of soy milk chocolate, because it may contains undeclared traces of milk. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this soy milk chocolate bar.

The Soy Milk chocolate bar was distributed in the following states: New York, New Jersey , Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Wisconsin., New Mexico, Virginia, Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan, Ohio. This product was available through retail stores and chain stores and through our web site: echocolates.com.

The bar is presented in a beige cardboard package of 3.5 oz, depicting tree with a green band on top stating “43% Soy milk or 38% Soy milk”. On the back of the package one would find; the following information: UPC: 797148000398.

There is one incident involving a child who developed rashes that has been confirmed to date.
This incident triggered an analysis of the formulation, and product analysis to determine the origin of the problem. We think the traces of milk came from a cross contamination issue during processing. We are currently designing a new process to specifically tackle this problem.

Source | The Associated Press

ConAgra Foods Inc. has asked U.S. stores to stop selling Banquet pot pies linked to a salmonella outbreak and is offering refunds for the turkey and chicken-filled products.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based company and the U.S. Department of Agriculture had defended their decision Wednesday not to recall the product, saying they were safe if cooked according to package instructions.

In Canada, officials at grocery chains Sobeys, Loblaws and Safeway said they do not sell Banquet pot pies.

The pies have been linked to at least 152 cases of salmonella in 31 states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least 20 people have been hospitalized as part of the ongoing outbreak, but so far no deaths have been linked to the pies.

Consumer Goods industry news provided by Financial News USA (OTC: FNWU). ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) voluntarily stopped production recently at the Missouri plant that makes its Banquet pot pies after health officials said the pies may be linked to 139 cases of salmonella in 30 states. ConAgra maintains that its pies are safe if they’re cooked properly, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a health alert recently to warn consumers about the link between the company’s product and the salmonella cases. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been tracking reports of the salmonella cases since.

Source | The Oregonian

Food safety - A warning about Banquet brand items, made by ConAgra, comes after an outbreak of salmonellosis

By Alex Pulaski

State health officials issued a consumer warning Tuesday about Banquet brand pot pies following a large, multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis, including two confirmed cases in Oregon.

Banquet brand pot pies are sold in the freezer section at grocery stores and other outlets nationally. The pot pies have code numbers beginning with “5009″ or a “P9″ code.

“If you have any of these products in your freezer, we recommend that you throw them out,” said Dr. William E. Keene, a senior communicable disease epidemiologist at the Oregon Public Health Division.

Anyone with symptoms of severe diarrhea or diarrhea with fever should tell their doctor if they have eaten pot pies within the last week, he said.

The manufacturer, ConAgra, has suspended production and sales of all pot pies produced at its Marshall, Mo., plant. The temporary hold, pending investigation, also includes private-label store brands produced there with the same “5009″ code number. Pies are not being recalled.

Earlier this year, ConAgra was subject to a massive recall of its Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter brands after a multi-state salmonella outbreak.

In the pot pie outbreak, at least 135 lab-confirmed cases with matching DNA profiles have been identified from 30 states. At least 20 individuals were hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.

Although only two cases have been confirmed in Oregon, Keene estimates that for every confirmed case, 25 or more others become ill.

Keene said the Oregon cases were reported in May and June, but health officials were not able to make a connection to the pot pies until a recent Minnesota outbreak became known.

The source of contamination at the ConAgra plant is unknown.

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by bacteria called Salmonella. Most people infected with Salmonella develop fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps 12–72 hours after exposure. Although illness usually lasts 4–7 days and most people recover without treatment, severe illness may occur that requires medical attention and hospitalization. In these patients, the Salmonella infection can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites. In this situation, the infection can cause death unless the patient is treated promptly with antibiotics. Infants, elderly people, and people with impaired immune systems are more likely than other people to become severely ill.

Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of animals, including birds and reptiles. Salmonella usually are transmitted to humans when we eat food contaminated with animal feces or food contaminated by a food handler who forgot to wash his or her hands with soap after handling raw meat, poultry or eggs, or after using the bathroom. Salmonella is also transmitted when contaminated objects or fingers are put into the mouth. The feces of some pets, especially reptiles, can contain Salmonella, and people can be infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with reptiles or their environment. Contaminated food, for example, beef, poultry, milk, and eggs, often originates from animals. However, many foods, including fruits, vegetables, and even flour can become contaminated.

Salmonella infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. In severe illness, it can sometimes be cultured from other body sources such as blood.

Do not eat any more of these pot pies. If the diarrheal illness is severe, with bloody diarrhea, fever, or symptoms lasting more than three days, you should consult a healthcare provider. Salmonella infection is diagnosed by culture of a stool specimen. Call your local health department as well, as they may wish to investigate your case further.

Until further information is available, CDC and United States Department of Agriculture – Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are advising the public to not eat any Banquet pot pies or pot pies made by ConAgra Foods that have a printed product code beginning in “5009” and ending in “P9” or “Est 1059.” Other brands of pot pies made in the ConAgra Foods factory that makes Banquet brand pot pies and sold under other brand names may also be contaminated with Salmonella. These other pot pie boxes also have a printed code beginning in “5009” and ending in “P9” or “Est 1059.” If you have any of these products at home, the safest thing to do is to discard them.