From Frozen Waffles to Costco Salmon: What to Know About Food Recalls

From Frozen Waffles to Costco Salmon: What to Know About Food Recalls

Claremont Colonic
From frozen waffles and quarter pounders to Costco salmon and freeze-dried meat, there have been a number of food recalls in recent weeks due to contamination concerns.
  • Recalls of multiple food products in recent weeks have alarmed consumers and health officials.
  • This is due to the risk of food-borne bacteria like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella in the broader U.S. food supply chain.
  • Deli meat, frozen waffles, McDonald’s hamburgers, and ready-to-eat poultry meals sold at stores have all been recalled after routine testing showed traces of bacteria.
  • Experts say the global food chain makes a number of products more vulnerable to such contamination, but the fact that we know about all the recent recalls means the safety protocols in place are working.

Recalls of multiple food products in recent weeks have alarmed consumers and health officials, as the risk of food-borne bacteria like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella in the broader U.S. food supply chain has increased.

Deli meat, frozen waffles, McDonald’s hamburgers, and ready-to-eat poultry meals sold at stores like Walmart, Trader Joe’s, and Costco have all been recalled after routine testing showed traces of bacteria.

  • The popular Boar’s Head company had to pull 7.1 million pounds of deli meat after E. coli was detected at a facility in Virginia responsible for producing ready-to-eat liverwurst; 59 infections were reported in 19 states and at least 10 people died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • At least 75 people in 10 states were sickened by E. coli that has been linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. The company’s subsequent testing of the beef involved showed no E. coli, but federal investigators suspect that the bacteria was present in the raw slivered onions that were on the burgers.
  • Frozen waffles and pancake products sold at stores like Target, Dollar General, and Publix were recalled by the company that produces them after listeria was found through routine testing at a manufacturing factory in Canada. No infections were reported.
  • Green onions, eggs, and ready-to-eat poultry meals have all been recalled this fall due to concerns about potential salmonella outbreaks.

Why food recalls are increasing, and how they’re identified

With so many highly processed foods in the supply chain, there are more chances for contamination and infection and, in the case of the Boar’s Head listeria outbreak, sometimes poor oversight at the source of production.

However, there are also more backstops in place than there used to be and coordination between federal, state, and local public health officials.

Richard Martinello, MD, Yale Medicine infectious diseases doctor and professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine, told Healthline that the CDC’s ability to identify and coordinate has made it possible for us to know about multistate outbreaks like the ones recently identified. In this way, the fact that so many have been publicized is a sign of success, he says.

“We have an increasingly industrialized food industry producing products at a large scale for lower cost. When potential contamination is not prevented, identified, and controlled, it can lead to large-scale, multistate outbreaks of disease,” Martinello said.

He further explained that foodborne diseases such as Listeria and E.coli 0157: H7 are notifiable to public health authorities, and this timely reporting allows a rapid response.

“Local and state public health authorities work closely with the CDC to both identify and respond when these events occur. As many foodborne outbreaks involve multiple states, CDC’s efforts are critical to identify and respond to these matters in a timely manner,” Martinello said.

He explained that the CDC has a deep bench of experts in a wide array of communicable diseases, allowing it to supplement state and local public health expertise. The CDC is also a lead agency for FoodNet.

“This collaborative federal effort helps to ensure timely identification of foodborne illnesses and an effective response. Both the Boar’s Head and McDonald’s issues are great examples of success. The outbreaks and their cause were quickly identified, communicated to the public, and measures taken to prevent further disease,” Martinello said.

Melanie Murphy Richter, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and the director of communications for the nutrition company Prolon, told Healthline that the vast network of supply and shipping involved in many products in stores can make them that much more susceptible to such contaminations, but the bad headlines in the news mean that the system’s safeguards are working.

“Our food now often has a global journey — from different farms, facilities, and countries — which opens up more chances for contamination. One event, like a salmonella issue in a farm’s onion supply, for instance, can impact salsa across multiple brands. This interconnected supply chain means a problem at any one point can trigger a far-reaching recall,” Richter said.

“With advanced DNA testing and data-sharing between agencies, we’re catching contamination faster and more precisely than ever. This technology means recalls happen sooner and are often larger because we’re better at detecting patterns across states and tracing them back to their source. This is definitely a good thing, and also, we hear about these outbreaks more, too,” Richter added.

How consumers can protect themselves from food-borne bacteria

Many experts have suggested that eating highly processed foods — which includes processed meats, ready-to-eat meals, and deli meat — should be avoided in general. But with the higher costs of groceries across the country, not everyone has the option of avoiding products that could carry these risks.

Richter suggested staying informed, reading labels carefully, and thoroughly washing fresh produce or purchasing frozen or canned produce along with shelf-stable proteins like beans, chickpeas, and canned fish.

Dry goods, in particular, are also a good meal option, she said.

“Foods like rice, pasta, quinoa, and whole grains are processed with minimal handling, making them generally low risk for contamination. They also store well and can form a safe, healthy base for many meals,” Richter said. “Pairing these with canned or frozen veggies, beans, or lentils can help create balanced, filling meals that don’t compromise on safety.” However, it’s important to read food labels as some canned foods can be packed with high amounts of sodium and additives, which can also negatively impact your health.

As far as deli meats go, Richter suggested the following three specific ways to consume them safely if you’re concerned about potential contamination:

Eat prepackaged over “house-cured” meats

“Prepackaged deli meats generally have fewer handling points, so they tend to be a safer bet than those sliced in-store. Standardized processing and controlled packaging help reduce the likelihood of contamination,” Richter said.

Keep cold and eat fresh

“Listeria thrives even in cool temperatures, so store deli meats in the coldest part of the fridge and try to consume them within a few days of purchase,” Richter said.

Choose low sodium and nitrate-free options

“While often a healthier choice, these options tend to come from brands with more transparent processing and safety standards, which can add an extra layer of quality control,” Richter said.

Takeaway

Recalls of multiple food products in recent weeks have alarmed consumers and health officials, as the risk of food-borne bacteria like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella in the broader U.S. food supply chain have increased.

Deli meat, frozen waffles, McDonald’s hamburgers, and ready-to-eat poultry meals sold at stores like Walmart, Trader Joe’s, and Costco have all been recalled after routine testing showed traces of bacteria.

Experts say the global food chain makes a number of products more vulnerable to such contamination, but the fact that we know about all the recent recalls means the safety protocols in place are working.


Contributor: Finn Cohen – Healthline.com

E. coli Cases Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Rises to 75, Federal Agencies Say

E. coli Cases Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Rises to 75, Federal Agencies Say

Claremont Colonic and Nutrient Resource Clinic
The E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has led to 75 illness across 13 states, including 22 hospitalizations and one death, according to new data posted Friday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration.
Two of the hospitalized patients had hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication that can develop from an E. coli infection. The older adult who died had underlying conditions but did not develop this syndrome.

The CDC opened the investigation on Tuesday, initially reporting 49 cases in 10 states – including 10 hospitalizations and one death. It can take weeks to determine whether an illness is part of an outbreak and these numbers were expected to grow.

Most of the illnesses related to the outbreak continue to be in Colorado, according to the CDC. Michigan, New Mexico and Washington have also been added to the list of states with reported illnesses, along with Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. But the agency notes that the outbreak may go beyond those states.

Federal authorities say that they are still working to confirm the specific source of the bacteria, but the US Food and Drug Administration says that the slivered onions or beef patties on Quarter Pounder sandwiches are the likely source of contamination.

Among those who have been interviewed, all reported eating at McDonald’s and the vast majority had eaten a beef hamburger, according to the FDA.

“The FDA is using all available tools to confirm if onions are the source of this outbreak,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement. “This includes working with federal and state partners and the companies involved to collect and evaluate records and distribution information as part of our traceback investigation. FDA and state partners are also collecting onion samples for analysis.”

McDonald’s has taken Quarter Pounders off the menu in about a fifth of its stores. The company has stopped using the onions as well as quarter-pound beef patties in several states – Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma – while the investigation continues, the CDC said.

McDonald’s supplier Taylor Farms has removed yellow onions from the market “out of an abundance of caution,” the company said in a statement Wednesday, and distributor US Foods has issued a recall of four onion products due to “potential E. coli contamination.”

In light of these actions, the CDC said Friday that additional risk is “very low.”

But on Friday, McDonald’s announced in a statement that it will indefinitely stop sourcing onions from Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs facility.

Onions from this facility were distributed to about 900 McDonald’s restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and portions of other states in the area, McDonald’s said. Some of those locations were in transportation hubs, such as airports, which could account for the broader spread of illness.

“At McDonald’s, food safety is something we will never compromise on. Customers can count on McDonald’s to do the right thing, and public health authorities can count on McDonald’s continued close partnership,” the fast food chain said in the statement. All other menu items are “unaffected and available,” they said.

The FDA confirmed that yellow onions from Taylor Farms were sold to additional food service customers. Some other major fast food chains who have received onions from Taylor Farms – including Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC – have removed fresh onions from their menus at some locations.


Contributor: Deidre McPhillips–CNN Health

Are Video Games Good for You and Your Brain?

Are Video Games Good for You and Your Brain?

Claremont Colonic Center
While playing can increase brain matter and improve cognitive function, balance is key.
Video games offer a considerable amount of adventure and entertainment. Traditional games, like Tetris, or the more modern Candy Crush Saga, are puzzling brain busters that require a certain level of strategy in order to be successful.

Others, like Nintendo’s Breath of the Wild or Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series, provide an escape from the real world and into familiar or far-off places. And even violent video games like The Last of Us 2 have become critically acclaimed for their level of inclusivity and accessibility, impactful storytelling and innovative game design.

But in recent years, regardless of genre, the pros and cons of video games and how they affect our brains have been a hot topic of discussion — particularly when discussing video game addiction. Defined as a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, video game addiction is a controversial diagnosis that has left researchers debating on whether it should be classified as an addiction or mental illness at all, leaving many of us asking the question: Are video games good for you?

Pediatric behavioral health specialist Michael Manos, PhD, explains how video games affect your brain in good and bad ways, and when video game addiction can be a real problem.

Is gaming good for your brain?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children under 2 should have no screen time and kids ages 2 to 5 should get an hour or less of screen time per weekday and three hours on the weekend days (and Dr. Manos agrees that this is a good rule of thumb).

But a recent study of more than 2,200 children discovered that gamers who played more than 21 hours a week performed better than non-gamers when they were tested for impulsive behavior and memorization. In fact, researchers observed gamers had more activity than non-gamers in regions of their brains that were associated with attention and memory.

While the direct causes for these changes in children’s brains are unknown, there have been a number of other positive findings related to positive effects of video games. In fact, there’s even a video game treatment called EndeavorRX for children who have ADHD between the ages of 8 and 12. Here are some other benefits:

Increases brain matter

Much research has been done to show that video games impact brain plasticity (your brain’s ability to change in response to learning) through the use of attentional control and reward processing. The idea here is that the more you’re able to direct attention toward a certain task, the more stimulated you are by completing that task. From there, you can then move on to more complicated tasks. This is especially important when you consider that your brain’s gray matter — the outer-most layer of your brain — contains billions of neurons and is responsible for controlling your movement, retaining your memories and regulating your emotions. Essentially, the more you learn, the more your brain can adapt.

“Like stimulants, video gaming can increase gray matter in the brain,” says Dr. Manos. “Gray matter provides interconnectivity and allows parts of your brain to communicate with other parts of your brain and advance your self-perception.”

Provides stimulating activity

Unlike TV shows and movies, video games are interactive and require attention to detail and task management. Take a role-playing game (RPG), like The Witcher or Mass Effect, for example: There’s a long list of main quest objectives you have to complete in order to beat the game. But you also have a longer list of side objectives that are optional in order to flesh out the game’s story and reward system.

For every task you complete, a game will usually reward you with experience points to advance your character’s skill. You’ll also get in-game trophies that symbolize your achievement. This relationship of risk and reward isn’t specific to RPGs (you see it in simulation games like Animal Crossing, too) but it’s particularly rewarding for completionists wanting to accomplish everything they can in a game before moving on to the next.

“A constant barrage of reinforcement occurs often and in succession with video games,” explains Dr. Manos. “The danger of a particular situation and the resolution of a situation gives you a sense of accomplishment, which doesn’t happen very much in real life. This makes video games incredibly stimulating.”

Improves focus and visuomotor abilities like hand-eye coordination

Because of the level of detail and interaction, you often have to pay close attention to visual and auditory cues to accomplish certain tasks in a video game.

“When you’re watching a video game, you’ve got to pay attention to every little thing that comes into your visual field and react to it,” notes Dr. Manos. “Being able to visually contrast, being able to tell the difference between one thing and another, is also a skill that can be developed by playing video games.”

We see this often in action-adventure games like Tomb Raider or Resident Evil, when you participate in quick-time events (or QTEs) where you have to push a button that matches a symbol on the screen within a very limited amount of time in order for something to happen.

But Dr. Manos cautions that although video games can improve focus and hand-eye coordination with mechanics like QTEs, there are real-world examples, like driving through fog, that present a greater opportunity for learning. “If you’re driving through fog, you have to be hyper-alert to see whatever is in front of you. That’s a skill you really want to learn and that kind of thing can be improved in playing a video game,” he states. “But just because a person can distinguish something in a video game, that doesn’t mean they’re going to be able to distinguish it in real life.”

Improves ability for set-shifting and other cognitive functions

Set-shifting is the ability to move back and forth between different tasks in quick succession. The ability to start one thing and immediately pick up another is an important factor in determining your cognitive flexibility. We often mistake set-shifting as multitasking, but the ability to direct our attention from one thing to the next — like cooking dinner on the stove while listening to a podcast or pausing a video game to start a load of laundry — is an important skill to have. “People switch tasks all the time,” says Dr. Manos. “That executive function tends to get a little better when playing a video game.” Plus, other cognitive functions can be improved by video games, too. This 2020 overview of commercial video game studies suggests different types of video games improve different cognitive functions. Action video games, for instance, are highly associated with improving someone’s ability to direct their attention and filter specific information. Traditional puzzle games, like Tetris, were associated with increased performance in navigation, perception and recognition.

Can video games be bad for you?

As you can see, the good effects of video games are broad, but it’s hard to recreate those effects in real life outside of gaming. That’s also true about the negative effects of video games and there’s much to be discussed about exactly how these effects play out in other areas of your life.

The difficulty with research in the field of video games is that several studies contradict each other and it’s challenging to determine the exact mechanisms behind what’s being studied.

Some studies are small with a very narrow scope, like this one that suggests children who are physically active have faster reaction times than those who only play video games. Other studies are much broader in their approach, like this one that suggests people who play video games have an increased ability to learn from their experiences and manage conflict.

Part of what makes research into video games and their effect on brain function so controversial is that there’s been a large body of research that’s been slowly building over the last decade that suggests internet and video game addictions are a real problem, despite video game addiction only affecting 3.05% of the world’s population.

Since The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders added the term “internet gaming disorder” in 2013, continued research has suggested that video game addiction is similar to other well-established addictions related to substance use disorders. This may partially be because the same parts of your brain, specifically those that release dopamine (the feel-good hormone), are activated when you have any addiction.

Specifically, people who play massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) are believed to be the most at risk for developing a video game addiction because of the ever-present pressure to level up their characters, participate in seasonal or time-sensitive limited events and constant access to in-game rewards.

“Video games are so stimulating that kids want to sustain engagement with them, as if that’s life,” says Dr. Manos. “The next stimulating event is always right around the corner, and you know you just have to get to that corner. That’s what prompts addiction.”

And while one study discovered an increase in concentration and visuomotor abilities like spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination in gamers who played MMORPGs, they also discovered structural brain differences and a loss of self-control.

To better understand the exact impact video games have on our brains, more research is needed to look at the specific cause and effects associated with gaming. In fact, some researchers are determined that a multidisciplinary approach is needed when studying the effects video games have on brain function because of advancements made in the game industry (with game analytics, game design and player experience), alongside advancements in the medical fields of cognitive science, machine learning and social sciences.

How do you know if you or your child is addicted to video games?

As with any addiction, when it starts taking over someone’s life and altering their ability to participate in and enjoy day-to-day activities, there may be some reason for concern.

“When parents start noticing their kids are avoiding certain tasks, they’re replacing certain activities, like playing with friends or participating in sports, with video games, you have to start getting concerned,” states Dr. Manos. “When a child is willing to sacrifice or compromise a formerly high-interest activity in order to play a video game, then it’s useful to begin observing how much time the child is actually playing and perhaps limit their playtime.”

This is especially true if your child has emotional outbursts or gets physically aggressive when they’re asked to pause the game or turn it off.

“It’s not easy to take a child away from a video game,” says Dr. Manos. “When emotional reactions occur when the child is deprived of a video game, that’s a problem.”

If you’re concerned about your child’s time spent playing video games, or if their behavior becomes worse over time, you can ask your healthcare provider or child therapist about whether or not they need cognitive behavioral therapy to help manage any underlying causes that might be leading to an over-reliance on video games.

But at the end of the day, if your child is content, continues to participate in social and physical activities with their friends and family members, and they’re developing critical thinking skills necessary to analyze and navigate the world around them, there’s no harm in allowing for occasional video game enjoyment.

“There have been some positive findings that when parents actually sit down and engage the child while they’re playing video games by talking about it, watching it or even playing with their child, that it can be a very positive experience for parents and kids,” says Dr. Manos.


Contributor: ClevelandClinic.org

Nearly 10 Million Pounds of Meat Recalled Due to Listeria Concerns

Nearly 10 Million Pounds of Meat Recalled Due to Listeria Concerns

Claremont Colonic Newsletter
NATIONWIDE – BrucePac, a producer of ready-to-eat meat and poultry items, has recalled more than 9.9 million pounds of product due to possible listeria contamination, the US Department of Agriculture announced on Wednesday.
Dozens of recalled products have been distributed to restaurants and institutions nationwide. Affected products may have been used in ready-to-eat products that are “on store shelves or in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers,” or available for use by restaurants and other establishments, the USDA said.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service discovered the issue during routine product testing of finished poultry products, the federal agency said. BrucePac ready-to-eat chicken was identified as the source of the listeria, which may have affected other ready-to-eat meat and poultry items that were produced from June 19 to October 8.

Listeria bacteria causes listeriosis, the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches and fatigue. An infection can also cause a stiff neck, a headache, confusion or seizures. Those most at-risk for severe outcomes are older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

So far there have been “no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products,” the USDA said Wednesday. However, some people who get ill recover without being tested for listeria and it usually takes weeks to link an illness with an outbreak. It can take up to 10 weeks for symptoms of listeria infection to begin.

“Restaurants, institutions, and other establishments are urged not to serve or use these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” the USDA said. “Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.”

This recall follows a deadly listeria outbreak connected to recalled Boar’s Head deli meat that is the nation’s largest in more than a decade. There have been 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths since the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started an investigation in July.


Contributor: Deidre McPhillips, CNN