Author Archives: Katie Filion

Spicy Salmonella

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Union International Food Co. is recalling some of it’s Lian How and Uncle Chen’s brand spices due to potential Salmonella contamination. According to the FDA press release,

Officials investigating a multi-state Salmonella outbreak isolated Salmonella from an open container of Lian How White Pepper, which was found at a restaurant where some outbreak victims ate.  Union International Food Co. is making every possible effort to protect our customers and the consuming public.

Spices have been recalled due to Salmonella contamination in the past. Like peanuts, spices can become contaminated with Salmonella if they are exposed to feces from birds, rats, mice and other animals. Steps must be taken from harvest, through storage, packing and shipping to prevent contamination.

The full press release, including a list of recalled products is available here.
 

Life with cats and dogs

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With Doug and Amy on the Bite Me ’09 tour, it’s just me and the pets here in Manhattan (Kansas). Having never lived with pets before it took me a while to warm up to the cats and dogs, but with the humans gone they’ve quickly become my only friends.

Today The Boston Globe reports that both cats and dogs are safe to live with. Phew.

Many of the germs carried by pets are far more likely to be transmitted through contaminated food or water than from a pet, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the benefits of pet ownership are legion – lower blood pressure, reduced stress, even better social lives.

Dr. Lisa Moses at MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Centre in Boston, continues,

"The reality, fortunately, is that transmission of infectious diseases from pets to people is a relatively rare event.”

Neither cats or dogs are completely risk free, and pet owners should wash hands after cleaning up after pets or handling pet food.
 

Love and food safety for millionaires

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There are several shows I love to hate, and The Millionaire Matchmaker is one. On the episode tonight Hatch, an ex-NFL player, dated Maya. The two made dinner together with the help of Top Chef Ryan, flirting childishly throughout the process.

As the two entered the restaurant I noticed a restaurant inspection disclosure card in the establishment’s window: a bright blue A. The Millionaire Matchmaker must only select A-rated restaurants for her rich lads.

Hawaiian handwashing masked man

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From the Honolulu Advertiser, 

The state Department of Health is warning restaurant and food establishment owners to beware of a scam letter alerting them of a requirement to purchase and post signs reminding employees to wash their hands.

Initially I thought this might be the work of a concerned citizen, trying to save the public from the dangers of ill food handlers, but the Hawaiian government believes it to be a credit card scam.

The letter contains an official looking state of Hawaii logo, claims that a new law mandates the display of hand-washing posters and threatens fines for those not in compliance…The DOH has no such requirement for mandatory hand-wash signage, and owners or managers of food establishments should disregard the notice.

 

Jon and Kate plus 8: Dirty hands edition

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Last night Amy and I tuned into the finale of Jon and Kate plus 8, hoping Jon’s rumored making out with college chicks would be addressed. It was not.

There were a few moments of footage where the Gosselin kids filled the doggie bowls with pet food. The little helpers were eagerly scooping the food and handling the bowls, and didn’t appear to wash their hands.

Pet food can become contaminated with Salmonella, so Kate should ensure her kiddies are washing their hands after handling pet food or treats.
 

Saddle up, it’s a gross one

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Having worked at Subway I know better than to trust a food handler wearing gloves. During my sandwich artist days I rarely changed gloves as often as needed, and almost never washed my hands before gloving-up. And I’m not alone.

The Phoenix New Times food blog, Chow Bella, has a section dedicated to exposing dirty diners, appropriately called Gross Out. Today’s feature is Saddle Ranch Chop House of Glendale, Arizona. Gross Out highlights findings from the restaurant’s latest inspection.

 From the report:

"Employee observed to wash hands then pull dirty towel out of back pocket and dry hands with towel."

"Observed employee on cook line to dip gloved finger into sauce and lick sauce off of finger then continue to handle ready-to-eat foods."

"No paper towels or approved hand-drying devices at handwash sinks in all bars."…

Gross indeed. You never know where that finger (or glove) has been.

FDA warning: Avoid oysters recently harvested from Mississippi area 2C

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Last week several patrons of the Boathouse Rotisserie and Raw Bar became ill after eating raw oysters. Health department tests confirm that eleven consumers of the Chattanooga, Tennessee restaurant were infected with norovirus.

Now the Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to avoid oysters recently harvested from Mississippi area 2C between Feb. 24 and Mar 17, 2009. 

Retailers and food service operators can check the tag or labeling that should accompany all raw molluscan shellfish to verify its origin… Consumers who are uncertain about the origin of oysters should contact the place of purchase to determine if the oysters are from the affected area… Individuals who have eaten raw oysters harvested from the affected area during the specified dates and have experienced symptoms of norovirus infection are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider and local health department.

Oysters filter large quantities of water; therefore if there are contaminants in the water they can be picked up in the oysters, causing illness if consumed raw or improperly cooked. In the past contaminated water or infected food handlers have been the cause of norovirus outbreaks linked to raw oysters. 
 

Norovirus in a castle

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While attending university in Guelph I made the trek from Sault Ste. Marie, through Michigan, a few times a year. A quick Google Maps search reveals Lake Orion, MI, where Canterbury Castle is located, was less than an hour off my regular route.

According to ClickOnDetroit.com, nearly 100 people have become ill with what is believed to be norovirus, after dining at the castle this week.

Nevin Mitchell, who attended a fundraiser with his family at the castle, said,

"First we threw up, a lot, until we couldn’t throw up anymore. Then we had severe muscle and stomach cramps. And diarrhea, I’m afraid to admit."

Nevin and his family were luckier than others. According to the fundraiser organizer, one attendee was treated for four days after becoming ill.

“Complete weakness. He couldn’t even lift his hand up to take a phone number down for the health department from me."

People who attended two other Canterbury Castle events, including a wedding, also became ill that night. The [Oakland County Health Department] said the virus is usually spread by improper hand washing.

What’s more important, is encouraging food handlers to stay home if they are ill, and for 2 or 3 days after feeling better in the case of norovirus. Many outbreaks of norovirus have occurred in foodservice.

Symptoms of norovirus typically appear 12 to 48 hours after ingestion of the virus, and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, usually lasting for 1 or 2 days.
 

Dirty dining in New Brunswick

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During my undergraduate days I frequented the Grad Lounge, a campus eatery, almost daily, ordering Indian cuisine like chana and samosas (pictured right). The food was decent, but mainly they accepted debit, while most other places on campus did not.

An Indian and Pakistani cuisine restaurant in Fredericton, New Brunswick has had its license revoked following a bad inspection Tuesday, reports Canadaeast News Service.  The restaurant, Chez Riz, was mentioned in the national Where to Eat in Canada guide, but won’t be serving up samosas until it corrects the three pages worth of items listed on the inspection report.

The Health Department’s report identified frozen samosas stored on newspaper with a metal pan on top in one freezer, and raw chicken stored on top of cooked food… The walk-in refrigerator needed cleaning and knives under a steam table were dirty… Floors, walls and ceilings, shall be cleaned regularly to prevent accumulation of dirt and food residue… No soap in the hand sink in the staff washroom…

Rizwan UI-Haq, chef at the restaurant, said aside from the chicken and samosas the rest of his food is fine,

"Our hot and cold temperatures were good. They checked it with a meter. Everything was OK. Our problem was the mess and the cleaning thing.”

In New Brunswick restaurant inspection results are summarized with colors, as seen below, and can be found on the Department of Health’s website.


UI-Haq plans on returning to his previous green status,

"I will be ready today or tomorrow. He’ll (the inspector) check everything and we’ll be fine. I will give more attention to this, because I’ve never had any problem. I was always on green until the day before yesterday.”

If only the Where to Eat in Canada guide mentioned restaurant inspection results.
 

Heartland Caf?? should change its slogan

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A Chicago eatery, claiming to serve “Good Wholesome Food for the Mind and Body,” has been shut down after an inspection revealed mouse droppings, food stored at unsafe temperatures, and unclean surfaces potentially causing cross contamination, reports the Chicago Journal. A diner who called 311 on the establishment, leading to the inspection, would likely argue the food was not enjoyable for the body or mind.

 The three violations found during the March 12th inspection were “critical,” warranting immediate shutdown of the restaurant, and a $500 fine each. The next afternoon during a second inspection mouse droppings were found scattered throughout the establishment, indicating a possible rodent infestation, keeping the café closed.

Tim Hadac, spokesman for the Department of Public Health, said,

"The establishment will remain closed until they can pass re-inspection. The burden is entirely up to them to address the violations until they can open again."

But the establishment remains closed, and review of previous inspection reports reveals this wasn’t the first time the Heartland Café operated under unsafe conditions.

Frances Guichard, director of Food Protection Program for the Chicago Department of Health, said,

"[The Heartland] seems to be on a cusp of problems, but not enough to close them down. We do find violations and come back five days later to find that they corrected it."

An August 2002 inspection found large rodent droppings and live moths in the dry storage area, and turkey, lentils and sausage stored at an unsafe temperature; the café passed a re-inspection five days later. In April 2005, more than 50 mouse droppings were found in a storage room. A month later a patron called 311 reporting mouse droppings in the women’s restroom. Inspection found a baited rodent hole, but no droppings.

In Chicago inspection results are available online, indicating a pass or fail. The site doesn’t appear to have been updated however, since it indicates the Heartland Café has “passed” recent inspection (on 10/26/2007). The Heartland Café’s website indicates they will be opening today with a limited menu.