Jean, Eggs and Ham

Recall alert: Nestle Pure Like one-gallon water at ShopRite

Nestle has recalled its one-gallon bottles of Pure Life water sold in ShopRite stores across New Jersey and the Northeast. The bottles may be contaminiated with a diluted form of a food cleaning compound that could be harmful if ingested in large amounts over a period of time.  All of the recalled bottles have this code on their "arm": First line…………050508126WF024  Second line……... Starts with the numbers "08" (For example: 0801BB05/2010).

No illnesses have been reported and as of Monday, June 23rd, ShopRite stores should have removed all of the recalled water. Consumers who may have purchased the water should contact the company at a toll free number 866-599-8980.

Passaic folks peeved about tomato recall

Spinach in '06, beef in '07, and now tomatoes! Anyone annoyed by the our current nationwide recall?

More than 200 people in 23 states have been ill from eating plum and round-red tomatoes contaminated with salmonella bacteria. Researchers remain unsure the source of the contamination. Some worry it's in Mexico -- the U.S. imports about 80 percent of its tomatoes from there -- though the Mexican government insists no evidence proves their tomatoes are unsafe.

I overheard a couple people in Passaic yesterday discussing it; one man was annoyed he didn't get a tomato in his fast-food burger. The woman he spoke with was all like, what's next??

Well, hold out 'til August, when the world-famous Jersey tomatoes hit farmer's markets and local groceries. Another reason to love our fair Garden State.

Recall alert: Roma, red round tomatoes

The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers nationwide to avoid eating Roma tomatoes, plum tomatoes or any foods that may include those tomatoes because they have been linked to a widespread outbreak of salmonella poisoning.

So far cases have been limited to Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, and Puerto Rico. But consumers who bought or consumed these tomatoes or tomato-based products from stores or restaurants anywhere should contact the store or restaurant of purchase to determine what sort of tomatoes they bought and where the tomatoes used in the product were grown. Cherry, grape and tomatoes still attached to the vine are not included in the warning.

So far, restaurants including McDonald's, Burger King, Subway and Chipotle have pulled tomatoes from their menus.

Consumers with questions should call 888-INFO-FDA.

Recall alert: dried smoked catfish and other seafood

All dried smoked catfish steaks and other smoked seafood products produced by the Hope Food Supply Inc., a food processing company of Texas, have been recalled. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration shut down the food processing company and ordered it to recall all products manufactured since 2007.

The smoked fish, sold nationwide under a different name, might harbor bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. These bacteria could cause serious illness. The FDA is advising consumers who bought smoked seafood products to check with the place of purchase to determine if the products came from Hope Foods. Customers who may have purchased or consumed smoked fish from the company should call a dcotor if they notice any symptoms of nauseua, stomachache, diarhhea, or fever. Anyone with questions should call 1-888-SAFEFOOD.

Recall alert: Chaca Chaca Chacatrozo candy from Mexico

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued a warning against Chaca Chaca Chacatrozo candy imported from Mexico because it may contain high levels of lead, consumption of which may lead to illness. 

The candy, a fruit pulp candy coated with a brownish-red colored salt and chili powder, is packaged in a clear plastic bag containing ten 50 grams individual candies. The net weight of the bag is 500 grams. The word "Chacatorzo" is printed at the top and bottom of the bag in white print outlined in blue. The front of the bag contains a white circle with a picture of a red locomotive. The words "Chaca Chaca" are printed in yellow across the locomotive. (Find a photo here). Anyone with the candy should throw it away and see a doctor.  Anyone who finds the candy for sale should call the CDPH Complaint Hotline at 1-800-495-3232.

Recall alert: Malt-O-Meal puffed rice and puffed wheat cereals

Check your generic cereal! Malt-O-Meal has just recalled some of its unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals sold labeled with the ShopRite, America's Choice, Pathmark and Acme brands because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recalled boxes have a "Best If Used By" codes between April 8, 2008 (coded as "APR0808") and March 18, 2009 (coded as "MAR1809"). They were distributed nationally under many labels.

No illnesses have been reported to date. Persons infected with Salmonella may experience symptoms and illnesses including fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and, in rare cases, death. Consumers who have purchased any products covered by this recall should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-877-665-9331.

Recall alert: Cantaloupes

If you bought any cantaloupe recently, bring it back to the store. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an alert on any any cantaloupe produced from Agropecuaria Montelibano in Honduras because it may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

To date, the FDA has received reports of 50 illnesses in 16 states linked to the consumption of cantaloupes, including New Jersey and New York. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Individuals who have recently eaten cantaloupe and experienced any of these symptoms should contact their health care professional.

They should also check with the place of purchase to determine if the fruit came from this specific grower and packer. If so, consumers should throw away the cantaloupes. For more information, call 888-INFO-FDA.

Recall alert: Aunt Jemima Pancake and Waffle Mix

The Quaker Oats Co. has recalled some of its Aunt Jemima Pancake & Waffle Mix: Original, Original Complete and Buttermilk Complete because they may have potential salmonella contamination.

The mixes were sold in 2 pound and 5 pound boxes with "Best Before" dates of FEB 08 09 H through FEB 16 09 H stamped on the top. No other Aunt Jemima, frozen Aunt Jemima or Quaker products are affected. There is very low risk of illness when preparation directions on box are followed and product is not consumed raw or undercooked. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this issue to date.

Salmonella ingestion can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. If consumers have this product with the indicated UPC codes and Best Before dates, they should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-800-407-2247 or by logging onto www.auntjemima.com.

Recall alert: Beef at Paterson Catholic, West Milford and 5 other schools

Kids, don't eat the mystery meat! At least seven Passaic County schools out of 160 school districts statewide received and has been serving some of the beef that was recalled last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The schools: Paterson Catholic Regional High School, St. Mary School in Paterson, St. Philip the Apostle School in Clifton, Passaic County Technical Institute, and the Bloomingdale, North Haledon, and West Milford school districts.

About 143 million pounds of beef, from Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. in CA, were recalled Feb. 17. Much of it was shipped to schools through the National School Lunch Program and was served in dishes like beef patties, meatballs, taco meat, beef barbecue nuggets and frozen minute steaks. It reached New Jersey schools through three processing companies: Pierre Foods of Ohio, Made-Rite Steak Co. of Pennsylvania, and Silver Springs Farm of Pennsylvania. Schools have until today to report how much they have in their inventory and then destroy it.

Officials said there have been no reports of any sickness from eating the beef. Anyone who feels they may have been sickened by the beef should call their doctor and call the company at 909-590-3340.

Recall alert: wholesale beef

Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company of Chino, Calif. has voluntarily recalled about 143 million pounds of raw and frozen beef products, deemed unfit for human food because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection.

The recalled products, including burrito mix, ground beef, sausage, shank and sirloin steaks, were sent to wholesale distributors nationwide within the past two years in bulk packages. They were distributed to schools and other major eating establishments. They were not available for direct purchase by consumers. All products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 336” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Companies should check their inventories and hold the products until the recalling firm makes arrangements for final disposition of the products. Anyone who believes he or she purchased or ate the meat should contact the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.