The research, which will be published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, describes a protein on enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) called QseE that detects human stress hormones. EHEC is the class of E. coli that the deadly O157:H7 strain belongs to.

The research team, led by UT Southwestern associate professor of microbiology Vanessa Sperandio, suggest that detection of stress hormones trigger toxins from EHEC that helps it absorb nutrients from the body. These stress hormones are often linked to sepsis.

Dr. Sperandio and her team hope to use their discoveries to interfere with EHEC signaling and thus with the infection process.

Source: Forbes: Stress May Encourage E. Coli Illness

Dr. Joseph C. Paige, a consumer safety officer with the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, states that reptiles and amphibians commonly carry Salmonella, but turtles are the most likely of those to come in contact with small children. Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at increased risk from the bacteria.

For a free brochure about Salmonella and turtles, you can visit a page the FDA has set up: FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine: What You Should Know About Small Pet Turtles.

Source: JAVMA News: FDA brochure warns of Salmonella.

from pet turtles

• Forming a Food Safety Working Group to “upgrade our food safety laws for the 21st century,”
• Naming former New York City health chief Margaret A. Hamburg as FDA chief.
• Asking Congress for $1 billion to hire new inspectors and modernize laboratories.
• Banning all sick or disabled cattle from entering the food supply.

A test of this vaccine on a cattle feedlot conducted by Texas A&M University researchers showed an 85% reduction in E. coli O157:H7 being shed by cows, and that among the cows that continued shedding E. coli, there was a 98% decrease in cells being shed.

Now, what’s interesting to me is that the meat producers who are interested in this vaccine do not want to be named, for fear of associating their brands with E. coli. To me, this represents a great marketing opportunity - a meat producer could send out a press release talking about how their meat is safer than the meat from other companies.

On the other hand, I feel that this overabundance of caution is partly due to lack of knowledge in the general population about E. coli - especially about the fact that cows carry E. coli naturally, so they’re always in cattle farms whether the meat producers want to admit it or not. In other words, people have to understand that E. coli is a natural part of the cattle farm ecosystem. A vaccine like this is meant to address this fact, and to prevent injury and death because of it.

Now, I’m predicting opposition to this vaccine, on the grounds that a new tool to prevent  E. coli O157:H7 spread may encourage some meat producers to continue untenable conditions for cattle in feedlots instead of changing them. The first thing I thought of, honestly, was people opposing this vaccine on the same grounds they oppose irradiation - that all it does is to “sanitize the poop”, so to speak, leaving it in the beef for us to eat.

To me, these are not the reasons I’d be concerned about the vaccine. Feedlot conditions should be controlled not by discouraging perfectly useful tools like this vaccine from being used, but by making the meat producers change their feedlot practices, either by regulation or simply by not buying from those producers.

In general, I think the development of this vaccine is a step forward in the protection of our beef supply. A word of caution, though:  just as bacteria can develop antibiotic resistance, they can develop resistance to a vaccine as well. I’d like to know what Epitopix LLC is doing to address this phenomenon.

Source: AP: USDA approves shot for cows aimed at E. coli

Blue Heron Bakeries

• Spelt Peanut Butter. Clear plastic bags of 5-6 cookies each (10-12oz), or individual cookies.
• Spelt Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. Clear plastic bags of 5-6 cookies each (10-12oz), or individual cookies.
• Mud Bay Trail Mix. 12 oz clear plastic bags.

Source: FDA: Blue Heron Bakery Recalls Spelt Peanut Butter and Spelt Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Mud Bay Trail Mix Because of Possible Health Risk

Coos Head Food Store

• Mt Hood Trail Mix. 4”x6” plastic zip lock bags, labeled “MT. HOOD MIX8818”, the sell by and packed on date from JAN 1.07 thru AUG 31.08.

Source: Coos Head Food Store Recalls MT Hood Trail Mix Because of Possible Health Risk

Sweet Sisters, Inc. DBA Sweet Life Patisserie

• Brownie with peanuts. Individually wrapped in plastic
• Peanut Butter Cookie. Individually in wax bag
• Chocolate Peanut Tartlet. Individual tart.
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. Whole cake 6”, 9”, 12”, or by the slice
• Custom designed Cake with Whole Peanuts added for filling or topping. Whole cake 6”, 9”, 12”, or sheet
• Peanut Butter Mousse Pie. Whole 10” or by the slice
• Peanut Butter Silk (Torte). Whole 8”, 10”, or by the slice
• Peanut Butter Truffle Torte. Whole 8”, 10”, or by the slice
• Custom designed Cheesecake, Silks/Tortes with Whole Peanuts added for Topping

Source: Sweet Sisters, Inc. DBA Sweet Life Patisserie Announces an Expansion for their Recall of Brownies, Bars, Cookies, Pies, Tartlets, Cheesecakes, Tortes, Silks and Cakes Because of Possible Health Risk

• BRAND’S Essence of Chicken Drink
• BRAND’S Essence of Chicken Drink, with Cordyceps Extract
• BRAND’S Essence of Chicken Drink, with 4 Herbs
• BRAND’S Essence of Chicken Drink, with Lingzhi
• BRAND’S Essence of Chicken Drink, with Ginseng

California Firm Recalls Poultry Products Imported From an Unapproved Source

Of course, there’s really no need to panic and toss out those bottles of Acai juice just yet. If the manufacturers of Acai juice are taking steps to kill parasites in the fruit before it gets into the juice, then the chances of you getting this parasite are small. There haven’t been any recorded cases of Chaga’s disease spread through Acai juice outside of Latin America (yet).

Furthermore, it’s not just Acai juice that can get contaminated with Trypansoma. In the past, Chaga’s disease has been associated with other beverages like sugar cane juice, and really, any fruit that comes from a region infested with Trypanosoma live may also be at risk.

However, this study points to the possibility of a potentially deadly parasitic disease being spread through Acai juice. It goes to show that even the hottest “miracle” fruits aren’t completely risk-free, so Acai juice fans, be aware of the risks, however small, and be sure you get your juice from a reputable manufacturer.

Kellogg is facing seven lawsuits alleging their peanut-based products sickened consumers with Salmonella. The bacteria was found in their Austin brand peanut butter crackers. This incident is part of the wider Salmonella outbreak associated with products made with ingredients supplied by the Peanut Corporation of America. Bill Marler, the attorney representing the Rectors, calls this a “memo” to companies to “use common sense” while buying products.

The affected products are:

• Queso Fresco Fresh Cheese Mexican style soft cheese: 14-ounce foil wrapped packages marked with lot number 4469 or 4477 affixed to each package on a white sticker, UPC number 8 17424 00024 6,  Plant # 36-8431.
• Queso Cotija Molido Mexican style grated cheese: 15-ounce clear plastic bags, UPC number 8 17424 00027 7, Plant # 36-1388. The bags do not contain a lot number or production date.

If you have consumed these products, contact a doctor immediately.

Source: FDA: Warning on Potentially Contaminated Cheese

Anyway, here are the details of the recall. Wild Birds Unlimited Wildlife Blend, made by Burkmann Feeds is being recalled after Salmonella was found in it. The affected product has a manufacturing date code of 81132200291608124 and is sold exclusively at Wild Birds Unlimited.

It’s not just humans that are in danger here, folks - this has been killing wild birds throughout North Carolina. So if you do have this product on hand, toss it out!

WLOS News: KY company recalls bacteria-tainted bird food