Urgent Recall of Alfalfa Sprouts

The FDA has announced that Caldwell Foods is recalling raw alfalfa sprouts linked to an outbreak of salmonella in ten states.

The sprouts are sold under the brand names

• Caldwell Fresh Foods in 4-oz plastic cups, 1-lb plastic bags, 2- and 5-lb plastic bags in cardboard boxes with a Caldwell Fresh Foods sticker
• Nature’s Choice in 4-oz plastic cups
• California Exotics brands in 5-oz plastic clam-shell containers

FDA reminds the public that children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid all kinds of raw sprouts, even those grown at home. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on May 27th, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: CDC, FDA, recalls, salmonella

CDC Warns of Salmonella Connected with Water Frogs

African Water Frog

The Centers for Disease Control are warning of an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium connected with handling water frogs, including African Dwarf Frogs.  More than 50 people, mostly young children, have been diagnosed with the disease since June of 2009.  About one in four have had to go into the hospital, but none has died so far.

The CDC stresses that people with compromised immune systems, including cancer patients on chemotherapy, should avoid handling frogs and reptiles and anything that comes in contact with them like aquariums, habitats, and water.  These animals should not be in households with children under five. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on December 11th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: CDC, salmonella, water frogs

Colorectal Cancer News in Brief: July 10

Research this week finds FDG/PET able to predict response to chemotherapy even after one treatment, and chemotherapy before surgery for liver mets makes CT scan evaluation less accurate.

Finding the best imaging methods to diagnosis and monitor cancer and comparing new colorectal cancer screening technologies to current standards are among recommended priorities for comparative effectiveness research (CER).  The FDA reports new egg safety rules and the recall of a powdered dietary supplement.

Videos of cancer patients are now online discussing the emotional impact of their diagnosis in The Day I Found Out. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 10th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: chemotherapy, comparative effectiveness research, FDA recalls, liver metastases, salmonella, survivorship

FDA Warns: Don’t Eat Raw Alfalfa Sprouts

The Food and Drug Administration recommends that consumers not eat raw alfalfa sprouts or combinations of sprouts that include alfalfa due to potential contamination with Salmonella Saintpaul.

The Centers for Disease Control, working with the FDA and state health departments, have identified 31 cases of illness traced to alfalfa sprouts in six different states since mid-March.  All either ate sprouts in a restaurant or bought them in retail stores.

Because the outbreak is widespread, the FDA suspects the problem may be in the seeds used for sprouting and how they are handled. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on April 28th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: alfalfa sprouts, FDA, salmonella

Entire Setton 2008 Pistachio Crop Recalled

After a joint inspection by the Food and Drug Administration and the California Department of Public Health found evidence of Salmonella contamination in critical areas of the Setton  processing facility, Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella has recalled all pistachios from the 2008 crop. The recall includes those nuts roasted in the shell, shelled roasted nuts, and raw shelled nuts.

FDA is advising consumers not to eat pistachios or food products containing them (such as pistachio bakery goods and pistachio ice cream) unless they can determine that the products do not contain pistachios from Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc., (“Setton”).

FDA is maintaining a searchable list of recalled products that contain Setton nuts. The CAL-PURE co-op of California pistachio growers  and the Western Pistachio Association list brands that do not contain Setton pistachios.

Cancer patients, especially those on chemotherapy, may have reduced immune systems that make them particularly vulnerable to Salmonella infection.

Posted by Kate Murphy on April 8th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: FDA recalls, pistachios, salmonella