Eight years ago, federal officials were struggling to remove potentially deadly E. coli from hamburgers when an entrepreneurial company from South Dakota came up with a novel idea: injecting beef with ammonia.
The company, Beef Products Inc., had been looking to expand into the hamburger business with a product made from beef that included fatty trimmings the industry once relegated to pet food and cooking oil. The trimmings were particularly susceptible to contamination, but a study commissioned by the company showed that the ammonia process would kill E. coli as well as salmonella.
Officials at the United States Department of Agriculture endorsed the company’s ammonia treatment, and have said it destroys E. coli “to an undetectable level.” They decided it was so effective that in 2007, when the department began routine testing of meat used in hamburger sold to the general public, they exempted Beef Products.
With the U.S.D.A.’s stamp of approval, the company’s processed beef has become a mainstay in America’s hamburgers. McDonald’s, Burger King and other fast-food giants use it as a component in ground beef, as do grocery chains. The federal school lunch program used an estimated 5.5 million pounds of the processed beef last year alone.
FULL STORY: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/us/31meat.html?_r=1
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
CPSC Renews Crib Warning After Another Death
CPSC Renews Crib Warning After Another Death
All cribs have been recalled but death toll rises to 11
The warning is increasingly urgent. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is telling parents not to use the recalled Simplicity drip side crib after the report of yet another infant who became trapped and suffocated.
The death toll is now 11, the agency says.
The crib is made by Simplicity Inc. and SFCA of Reading, Pa. The CPSC says the firm has ceased day-to-day operations and presumably has gone out of business.
In September the agency recalled about 600,000 Simplicity drop-side cribs because of an entrapment and suffocation hazard. At the time, two infant deaths had been attributed to the beds.
The recall notice said that, due to sizing problems with the crib's hardware, the drop side can come off the tracks. When the drop side detaches or partially detaches, it creates a hazardous gap, which can lead to infant entrapment and suffocation.
CPSC said it is also is aware of an additional 25 incidents involving the drop side detaching from the crib. To date, CPSC has recalled over 2 million Simplicity drop side cribs due to problems with the crib's plastic hardware.
Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/12/simplicity_cpsc03.html#ixzz0a0ir0eKx
All cribs have been recalled but death toll rises to 11
The warning is increasingly urgent. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is telling parents not to use the recalled Simplicity drip side crib after the report of yet another infant who became trapped and suffocated.
The death toll is now 11, the agency says.
The crib is made by Simplicity Inc. and SFCA of Reading, Pa. The CPSC says the firm has ceased day-to-day operations and presumably has gone out of business.
In September the agency recalled about 600,000 Simplicity drop-side cribs because of an entrapment and suffocation hazard. At the time, two infant deaths had been attributed to the beds.
The recall notice said that, due to sizing problems with the crib's hardware, the drop side can come off the tracks. When the drop side detaches or partially detaches, it creates a hazardous gap, which can lead to infant entrapment and suffocation.
CPSC said it is also is aware of an additional 25 incidents involving the drop side detaching from the crib. To date, CPSC has recalled over 2 million Simplicity drop side cribs due to problems with the crib's plastic hardware.
Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/12/simplicity_cpsc03.html#ixzz0a0ir0eKx
Test results on formaldehyde in Noodlefish---Hong Kong
Test results on formaldehyde in noodlefish
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recently conducted a targeted food surveillance exercise to assess the situation of formaldehyde in noodlefish.
Results showed that one of the 10 samples taken contained formaldehyde at a level of 1,200ppm. The samples had been collected from retail outlets for testing.
"We believe formaldehyde was added as a preservative after the fish were caught, or during transportation or storage," a CFS spokesman said today (December 17).
"At the level of formaldehyde detected in the noodlefish sample, health effects such as abdominal pain and vomiting and kidney problems cannot be ruled out for high consumers," the spokesman said.
"Consumption of noodlefish by the general public with the same detected level as this sample on a long-term basis might have effects on the gastro-intestinal tract. The main health concern of formaldehyde is its cancer-causing potential through exposure via inhalation. According to the World Health Organization, there is not sufficient evidence showing that formaldehyde is carcinogenic through exposure through the oral route."
The CFS called on the trade not to add formaldehyde to fish or other marine products. Under the law, formaldehyde is not permitted for use as a food preservative. Contravention of the law could lead to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
"Regarding the unsatisfactory sample, the CFS issued warning letters to the stall operator concerned asking him to stop selling the affected products. We are tracing the source of the fish in question. We are also collecting sufficient evidence for prosecution," he added.
The CFS also advised the public to take note of the following when buying or cooking marine products (e.g. noodlefish):
* Avoid buying noodlefish that are stiff (formaldehyde could stiffen flesh of fish);* Choose only fish that are fresh and avoid those with an unusual smell;* Wash and cook marine products thoroughly as formaldehyde is water soluble and could dissipate upon heating.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recently conducted a targeted food surveillance exercise to assess the situation of formaldehyde in noodlefish.
Results showed that one of the 10 samples taken contained formaldehyde at a level of 1,200ppm. The samples had been collected from retail outlets for testing.
"We believe formaldehyde was added as a preservative after the fish were caught, or during transportation or storage," a CFS spokesman said today (December 17).
"At the level of formaldehyde detected in the noodlefish sample, health effects such as abdominal pain and vomiting and kidney problems cannot be ruled out for high consumers," the spokesman said.
"Consumption of noodlefish by the general public with the same detected level as this sample on a long-term basis might have effects on the gastro-intestinal tract. The main health concern of formaldehyde is its cancer-causing potential through exposure via inhalation. According to the World Health Organization, there is not sufficient evidence showing that formaldehyde is carcinogenic through exposure through the oral route."
The CFS called on the trade not to add formaldehyde to fish or other marine products. Under the law, formaldehyde is not permitted for use as a food preservative. Contravention of the law could lead to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
"Regarding the unsatisfactory sample, the CFS issued warning letters to the stall operator concerned asking him to stop selling the affected products. We are tracing the source of the fish in question. We are also collecting sufficient evidence for prosecution," he added.
The CFS also advised the public to take note of the following when buying or cooking marine products (e.g. noodlefish):
* Avoid buying noodlefish that are stiff (formaldehyde could stiffen flesh of fish);* Choose only fish that are fresh and avoid those with an unusual smell;* Wash and cook marine products thoroughly as formaldehyde is water soluble and could dissipate upon heating.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Excelligence Learning Corp. to Pay $25,000 Civil Penalty Due to Violation of Lead Paint Ban
Excelligence Learning Corp. to Pay $25,000 Civil Penalty Due to Violation of Lead Paint Ban
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Excelligence Learning Corp, of Monterey, Calif. DBA Discount School Supply has agreed to pay a $25,000 civil penalty for allegedly violating the federal lead paint ban. The penalty settlement has been provisionally accepted by the Commission.
The settlement resolves CPSC staff allegations that Excelligence imported more than 33,000 units of children’s products that contained lead paint above the 0.06 percent legal limit at different intervals between August 2000 and August 2007. In 1978, a federal ban was put in place which prohibited toys and other children’s articles from having more than 0.06 percent lead (by weight) in paints or surface coatings. As a result of the Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act of 2008, the regulatory limit was reduced to 0.009 percent on August 14, 2009. These products were recalled in November 2007, December 2007and January 2008.
In agreeing to the settlement, Excelligence denies that it knowingly violated federal law, as alleged by CPSC staff.
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Excelligence Learning Corp, of Monterey, Calif. DBA Discount School Supply has agreed to pay a $25,000 civil penalty for allegedly violating the federal lead paint ban. The penalty settlement has been provisionally accepted by the Commission.
The settlement resolves CPSC staff allegations that Excelligence imported more than 33,000 units of children’s products that contained lead paint above the 0.06 percent legal limit at different intervals between August 2000 and August 2007. In 1978, a federal ban was put in place which prohibited toys and other children’s articles from having more than 0.06 percent lead (by weight) in paints or surface coatings. As a result of the Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act of 2008, the regulatory limit was reduced to 0.009 percent on August 14, 2009. These products were recalled in November 2007, December 2007and January 2008.
In agreeing to the settlement, Excelligence denies that it knowingly violated federal law, as alleged by CPSC staff.
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