Most Commonly Recalled Foods (And How To Buy Them Safely)

4 Of The Most Commonly Recalled Foods

(And How To Buy Them Safely)

By Lynn Andriani
Posted: 03/17/2015

We talked to former professor of food safety, Douglas Powell, about the safest ways to eat the things we love.

• Baked Goods
  
  
   
  The Concern: While it's been more than 10 years since the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act went into effect, unlabeled allergens—most often peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, dairy, fish, shellfish and eggs—are still the number one cause of recalls for FDA-regulated foods. And they often crop up unannounced in bakery products. 
  
  Small Thing to Keep in Mind: If you have an allergy, check the label each time you buy a product, because manufacturers sometimes change recipes and a trigger food may have been added. Here's a helpful list of unexpected words to watch out for, broken down by the type of diet you're following. 
  
  

  
  
• Cantaloupe
  
  The Concern: These orange-fleshed melons are different from honeydew and watermelon, since their "netted" exterior is more porous, so contaminants from soil, water, animals (and their manure) can get trapped in the rind. Plus, unlike other fruits, they're not acidic, so pathogens can grow more easily once you cut the melon open. 
  
  Small Thing to Keep in Mind: As many of us already do, avoid buying cantaloupes that look bruised; and, if you purchase precut cantaloupe, make sure it's refrigerated or on ice. Finally, don't let the sliced fruit sit out at room temperature for more than two hours.
  
  

  
  

  

  
  
• Chicken
  
  
  
  The Concern: This popular meat (we buy about 86 pounds per capita annually) is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness.
  
  Small Thing to Keep in Mind: A good recommendation is to buy chicken last when you're grocery shopping, since keeping it cold can prevent bacteria overgrowth. Also, be sure to defrost frozen chicken safely and cook it to 165 degrees (use a meat thermometer).
  
  
  

  
• Sprouts
  
  
  
  The Concern: Alfalfa, clover, radish and mung bean sprouts, which add crunch to salads and sandwiches, score well nutritionally. But since 1996, there have been at least 30 food-related illness outbreaks linked to raw and lightly cooked sprouts. FoodSafety.gov has an entire page devoted to awareness about these tiny vegetables.
  
  
  Small Thing to Keep in Mind: If you enjoy sprouts in salads, buy only ones with fresh, clean, white stems and roots that have been kept properly refrigerated. Douglas Powell, who blogs about food safety, says the best way to prepare sprouts is to cook them thoroughly before eating (so, stir-fries and pad Thai are fine).
  

  
  

  
  

  Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/17/most-common-recalled-foods_n_6866574.html
  
  
  

  
  

  

  Major Food Recalls

  
  

  Eggs

  In August 2010, two Iowa farms recalled 550 million eggs as a result of 1,500 cases of illness associated with salmonella, according to the CDC. The FDA said the contamination was possibly due to the cleanliness and size of the farms' chicken cages.

   

  Spinach

  In September 2006, the FDA issued a statement warning of E. Coli bacteria in spinach. The outbreak originated on a central California farm. It eventually claimed five lives and caused 205 illnesses across 26 states, with most cases occurring in the Midwest. Ultimately, the spinach industry reported a $350 million loss as a result of the outbreak.

   

  Beef

  In February 2008, the USDA conducted the largest beef recall in U.S. history. This recall resulted from the wide circulation of an undercover video from the Humane Society, which revealed workers in a California meat plant abusing "downer cows" -- unhealthy cows that are banned from the food supply. As a result, a record 143 million pounds of meat was recalled.

  
  

  Peanut Products

  In January of 2009, a U.S. peanut company issued a recall of its products after discovering possible salmonella contamination. The recall expanded to include 2,100 products from over 200 companies nationwide that contained its peanut products. According to the CDC the salmonella contamination spread through 46 states claiming eight lives and sickening over 700 people.

  

  Alcohol And Caffeinated Beverages

  In November 2010, beverages with high alcohol and caffeine content sparked national concern after nine college students in Washington state were sent to the emergency room for dangerous levels of intoxication. Certain colleges and eventually four U.S. states -- New York, Michigan, Washington and Massachusetts -- banned the culprit, Four Loko, which contains 12 percent alcohol and roughly the amount of caffeine found in two cups of coffee. In the same month the FDA deemed seven alcoholic/caffeinated products unsafe: Four Loko, Joose, Max, Lemon Lime Core Spiked, Core High Gravity HG, Core High Gravity Orange and Moonshot.

  

   

   Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

  In March 2010, the FDA recalled 178 products containing Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, a flavor enhancer found in processed foods such as salad dressings, soups, stews and various other snack foods. The FDA began an ongoing investigation of salmonella findings in a Las Vegas plant where the ingredient is manufactured.

   

  

  Romaine Lettuce

  In May 2010, two food companies in Ohio and Oklahoma recalled their romaine lettuce after the FDA discovered possible traces of E. Coli bacteria. The lettuce, which shipped to 23 states, was tied to a possible E. Coli outbreak. People were sickened in New York, Ohio and Michigan with E. Coli O145-related illnesses. 

   

  Instant Milk Ingredient

  In June 2009, a Minnesota company recalled its instant milk ingredient due to potential salmonella contamination. The generic ingredient is found in a slew of store-bought food products ranging from yogurt to drink mixes, causing a widespread recall of 287 product brands.

  
  

  Pistachio Products

  In June 2009, a California company recalled their pistachio nuts and products due to a possible salmonella contamination. Pistachio nuts, packaged ice creams, cakes, snack bars and candy containing this company's pistachio products were recalled by the FDA.