Cargill is Back Producing Ground Turkey

This post may interest those consumers who want to know more about what happens after a large food product recall in the U.S.

If the inspectors find contamination in the processing plant, and large amounts of product have to be recalled, it can mean the end of a small company. Larger ones can usually weather the storm - and the expense and negative publicity involved. Part of that expense is cleanup of the plant, as required by government regulators. Production of the recalled product, and sometimes of others as well, will have to be stopped until food safety is improved.

Cargill (Cargill Meat Solutions Corp.) provides an example. In August and September of this year (end of the summer, 2011) this huge company had a large ground turkey recall because of Salmonella contamination. The turkey had been processed at their Springdale, Arkansas facility. Several brands were affected: including Honeysuckle White, Shady Brook Farms, Riverside, Aldi Fit & Active, Giant Eagle, HEB, Kroger and Safeway.

After discovery of Salmonella at the plant, ground turkey production was suspended (another one in Virginia kept making it). Over the next few months, the company undertook a thorough cleanup and set up new and better quality and testing standards, including:

• Addition of more bacteria reduction steps, including before the turkey is ground.
• Improvement of the process control monitoring system
• Increase of the number and frequency of tests for Salmonella.
• Establishment of high pressure processing, to further reduce numbers of Salmonella.
• Training of workers in the new procedures.

Cargill now says that their new safety measures at the Springdale plant are the best in the industry. Cargill food safety specialists and USDA inspectors are also reportedly present for each and every shift at the plant.

So why didn't they have these measures before the outbreak which would have avoided a lot of misery to consumers - and, to the company? You know the answer: they cost money.

Cargill expects their turkey to be back in the stores soon. And, my guess is that at least part of the cost of increased safety will be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.

To your good health,

TSF

RECALL OF THE CONTAMINATED GROUND TURKEY IN CALIFORNIA

I have noticed that a lot of my California-based blog readers are wondering where the recently recalled Cargill ground turkey was sold here (see previous posts). People are particularly concerned - rightly so - because this is not just any old meat recall. It involves a Salmonella bacteria which is multi-drug resistant. That is the type of bacteria we all fear most, whether it be a Stahylococcus, Streptococcus, E.coli, or Salmonella. And, it is also the type of bacteria that is increasingly cropping up as antibiotics are overused, including at sub-therapeutic levels in poultry and meat production.

The California Department of Health (CDPH) has now put out a list of places where these recalled meat products were sold. It is paying particular attention to this nationwide recall, since several illnesses and the one death, have occurred in California (above see map).

The California stores involved in the recall include: WinCo, Food4Less, Foodsco, Stater Brothers Markets, Ralph's, Ralph's Fresh Fair, and Cala (only in San Francisco). I say "include" because who knows, more may be added to the list.

The products bore brand names of Kroger, Honeysuckle White and Riverside (see earlier posts for the products recalled). They were sold in many parts of California. The list of towns and cities is too long to include here but can be accessed on the Excel spread sheet provided by CDPH: see http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/Documents/fdbFrCMSd.xls (or, search on cdph.ca.gov for Cargill turkey recall). The list includes store addresses and telephone numbers which allows you to call them if you have any questions.

But remember that these potentially dangerous products have now been taken off the market. At least we hope so (besides, their Best by date has expired). And, as I have said before, just because pathogenic bacteria are found in significant numbers in a few items does not mean that they are present in every single package bought.

To your good health,
TSF

WHERE IS THE CONTAMINATED TURKEY BEING SOLD?

The USDA promised information on who was actually selling the potentially Salmonella-contaminated ground turkey (see previous posts) in the U.S. This information hasn't come out yet. My blog's search information shows that a lot of people want answers. Trader Joe's customers seem to be particularly concerned.

However, now that the word has gone out, you can basically assume that the recalled items have been withdrawn from store shelves. The larger retailers have systems in place which assure that this happens. As for the smaller stores, I don't know if they received any product from Cargill (the recalling company) but I doubt it. This huge food producer would tend to have large customers.

That basically leaves you checking your refrigerator - or, going through your garbage to find the packaging if you bought some pre-packaged ground turkey recently and can't remember which one it was. The company has actually posted a good list, with photos of each product, on http://stage1.order.cargill.com/na3047772.pdf. You may want to check this to refresh your memory.

What I can do is to name the states which have most likely sold the potentially contaminated ground turkey since theses are where the illnesses have occurred. Take a look at the map. By the way, the one death so far, was in California. A lot of people are still hospitalized and seriously ill.

To your good health,
TSF

UPDATE: If you live in California which gives you the specifics on where the turkey was sold there, and telephone numbers to call at the stores. In other states, search the websites of your state health agencies.

CONTAMINATED TURKEY RECALL COULD GET EVEN BIGGER

The ongoing recall of ground turkey by Cargill Meat Solutions (see yesterday's post) is the third largest in U.S. food recall history. To date, 36 million pounds of ground turkey have been recalled. Related Salmonella illnesses have been reported across 26 U.S. states. And, it could get larger.

Many food product recalls expand over time. In fact, it's a common pattern. (See post of July 28). As the investigation focuses in and continues, new problems tend to emerge. In this case, the government inspectors are still at work doing interviews with people who are ill with this particularly dangerous Salmonella bacteria and doing tests on samples.

There are two ways the recall could expand. First, more Cargill products could be involved. Secondly, more turkey products of other companies could also be found to be contaminated. It all depends where the contaminants entered - on the farm or at the plant - or, somewhere else. Reportedly, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is in charge of any meat-related issues, is investigating at least one other manufacturer for similar contamination problems.

So what do you do in the meantime? I would suggest you avoid buying any pre-packaged ground turkey for a while if you live in the U.S., unless it is ground at the store (that is how I get mine). And, if you have already bought some and want to use it (but, it is not one of the recalled products - see yesterday's list), be extra careful anyway not only to cook it thoroughly, but to handle it very carefully, using disposable gloves or tools that you can throw out or wash thoroughly afterwards. Any bacteria that is resistant to multiple antibiotics is no joke.

To your good health,
TSF

THE SALMONELLA MYSTERY SOLVED: IT'S GROUND TURKEY!

For the past five months or so, the authorities in the U.S. have been wondering what has been causing all those Salmonella illnesses throughout the country (at least 79 ill, and one death). Well, it seems that the mystery is finally solved. It's ground turkey. Yes, that risky ground meat product again.

Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a huge recall by the firm Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, of Springdale, Ark. In all, 36 million pounds of ground turkey products are being withdrawn from the marketplace before they make more people sick.

If you find any of the below in your refrigerator, don't eat it. Return it to your store or throw it out. Don't even cook it for the dog, as handling it could put you at risk as well. This is a particularly bad Salmonella bacteria - not only because it is the more potent Salmonella Heidelberg, but because it is a multi-drug resistant strain. The products were distributed nationwide. It's a very long list, but here goes:

Ground Turkey Chubs - Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
• 10 lb. chubs of Honeysuckle White Fresh Natural Lean Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
• 10 lb. chubs of Unbranded Ground Turkey w/ Natural Flavoring 2 Pack
• 80 oz. (5 lbs.) chubs of Riverside Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
• 10 lb. chubs of Natural Lean Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
• 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Fresh Lean HEB Ground Turkey 93/7
• 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Fresh HEB Ground Turkey 85/15
• 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
• 4-1 Pound Packages of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring Value Pack
• 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Fresh Ground Turkey
• 48 oz. (3 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Fresh Ground Turkey

85% Ground Turkey - Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
• 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
• 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White Taco Seasoned Ground Turkey Colored with Paprika
• 19.2 oz. (1 lb. 3.2 oz.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh 85/15
• 48.0 oz. (3 lb.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh 85/15
• 20 oz. (1.25 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
• 48.0 oz. (3 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey Family Pack
• 16 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
• 19.2 oz. (1.2 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White Seasoned Italian Style Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
• 20 oz. (1 lb. 4 oz.) trays of Safeway Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings * 15% Fat
(NOTE: Sold in Texas only at Randall's and Tom Thumb, Use or Freeze by 03/12/11 through 05/05/11)

93% Ground Turkey - Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
• 19.2 oz. (1.20 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey
• 48 oz. (3.0 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey Family Pack
• 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Fit & Active Lean Ground Turkey 93/07
• 19.2 oz. (1.2 lbs.) trays of Giant Eagle Ground Turkey Fresh & Premium Lean
• 19.2 oz. (1 lb 3.2 oz.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh Lean 93/7
• 20 oz. (1.25 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey

Ground Patties
• 16.0 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey Patties with "Use by" or "Freeze by" dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
• 16 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Kroger Ground Seasoned Turkey Patties Fresh 85/15, with "Use by" or "Freeze by" dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
• 16.0 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey Burgers with Natural Flavoring with the following "Use by" or "Freeze by" dates: 07/09/11, 07/10/11, 07/11/11, 07/15/11, 07/16/11, 07/21/11, 07/22/11, 07/24/11, 08/01/11, or 08/04/11

Frozen Ground Turkey - Production Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/2/11
• 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
• 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Spartan Ground Turkey
• 48 oz. (3 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
• 40 lb. Bulk Packed Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring for Food Service Use Only

To your good health,
TSF