Michigan organic soy processor is under court order to meet FDA food safety standards

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Douglas Powell

Green Hope LLC, which does business as Rosewood Products, and owner, Phi G. Ye, of Ann Arbor, Mich., have agreed to a consent decree of permanent injunction for violations of FDA food safety regulations. The consent decree was signed by Judge David M. Lawson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, on January 28, 2013.

Several FDA inspections found persistent violations involving insanitary conditions at the facility, leading to possible contamination of food. The firm manufactures and distributes organic tofu, soy milk and other products.

Under the consent decree, Green Hope must stop operations until the FDA approves the steps taken to bring its operations into full compliance with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and FDA food safety regulations. The steps include hiring an independent expert to develop a written sanitation control program and an employee training program, and assigning a Green Hope employee to implement and maintain the sanitation control program.

The FDA may at any time re-inspect the facility to ensure that these measures are being carried out. In addition, Green Hope will pay all costs of FDA supervision, inspections, analyses, examinations and reviews associated with this consent decree.

“Consumers expect their foods to be safe,” said Melinda K. Plaisier, acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. “When foods are not manufactured under sanitary conditions, those who prepare, process and distribute those foods should expect FDA enforcement action.”

E. coli cases in Michigan may be linked to apple cider

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Douglas Powell

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is working with the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and Community Health to determine whether multiple local illnesses may be linked to the consumption of unlabeled, unpasteurized apple cider.

An investigation is underway into a possible link between several E. coli cases and apple cider in Antrim County.

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria have been detected in stool samples from several Antrim County residents who developed severe intestinal illness and diarrhea during the past two weeks. Samples have also been collected to determine whether these cases may be linked to unpasteurized apple cider that was produced locally by an unlicensed facility and without the warning labels required by law for unpasteurized products.

According to Joshua Meyerson, M.D., Medical Director for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, apple cider – whether pasteurized or unpasteurized – should be obtained only from licensed facilities or vendors.

A table of fresh juice-related outbreaks is available at http://bites.ksu.edu/fresh-juice-outbreaks.

Michigan Mexican restaurant sees business pick up slowly following Norovirus outbreak

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Douglas Powell

Fox17 reports that business has been slow for the Holland area Mexican restaurant, Margaritas, where several hundred people contracted Norovirus in late July.

After reopening his doors in early August, owner Alonzo Salinas has made some changes.

“I think a lot of people will always be cautious about what they eat and where they eat. … Our customers put their trust in us and I believe we’ve done that.”

He says he keeps in contact with the Ottawa County Health Department for things ranging from proper handwashing to food temperature.

Salinas says a handful of customers have come forward wanting to be reimbursed for hospital visits and lost wages during the time they fell ill. He says his insurance has and will continue to take care of any claims, as long as customers can prove them.

50 illnesses linked to Margaritas (a restaurant, not the drink)

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Ben Chapman

Margaritas, a Holland, Michigan Mexican restaurant has been closed for the past few days due to yet-to-be identified cluster of gastrointestinal illnesses. According to reports, the Ottawa County Health Department is conducting interviews and testing food samples to search for a pathogen and source.

Spokeswoman for the health department, Shannon Felgner, said health department staff have called those who reported symptoms to gather a food history and timeline of the illness onset and recovery.

She said the number infected will be more than 50, but didn’t give an estimate of what they expect it will be.

The owner of Margarita’s, Alonzo Salinas, closed the restaurant Friday after several people were hospitalized earlier in the week.

Salinas said it’s not clear whether the illnesses were passed along by food or employees.

According to a Holland Sentinel picture, the operators posted a sign that says "We will be Closed…for cleaning and remodeling. We apologize for any inconvenience." Remodeling might not be the best word here. Mentioning the outbreak and directing customers who might be ill to health care providers is a better message.

Beware the pom-pom: cheerleaders stricken with norovirus at Michigan camp

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Douglas Powell

Portions of Davenport University’s student center, gymnasium, and a dormitory are closed for extensive cleaning after teenagers on campus for a cheerleading camp were affected by an outbreak of norovirus.

About 35-40 high school girls were affected by the outbreak, which began late Tuesday or early Wednesday. They suffered diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps, according to Kent County Health Department spokeswoman Lisa LaPlante, though none of the victims required medical treatment or hospitalization.

The girls were attending a cheerleading camp that began Tuesday, LaPlante says.
Davenport officials believe the virus was spread through hand-to-hand contact — likely when the girls were passing pom-poms. The health department has ruled out the likelihood of foodborne transmission.

Norovirus confirmed in Michigan hockey rink barfing outbreak

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Douglas Powell

Wayne County health officials confirmed today that the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea that sent nearly 100 people to area hospitals Sunday from a hockey tournament at the Taylor Sportsplex was caused by a fast-spreading norovirus.

The Detroit Free Press reports the Sportsplex reopened Thursday, and "the majority of individuals who suffered norovirus symptoms have recovered or have nearly recovered — they’re showing the classic progression of the virus running its course." Wayne County Department of Health spokeswoman Mary Mazur said.

The city-owned building was shut down Sunday night so that water and air testing could be performed, and the entire building has been disinfected, Mazur said Friday. It had been scheduled to reopen Wednesday, but managers of the facilities "decided to err on the side of caution" and gave an additional day to the clean-up and testing, she said.

E. coli O157 outbreak linked to worker at Michigan eatery

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Douglas Powell

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department in Michigan is, according to the Minning Gazette, investigating a cluster of E. coli O157 cases that originated at a Houghton restaurant.

Dr. Terry Frankovich, WUPHD medical director, told the Mining Gazette the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 occurred at the Ambassador Restaurant on Shelden Avenue during Christmas. Seven people became ill and four were hospitalized with no deaths occurring. The seven people who became ill were not sitting together. Two of the people were from Dickinson County and Wisconsin, with the rest from the Copper Country.

Frankovich said the O157:H7 strain when found in laboratory testing is reportable to the health department.

Frankovich said after getting the information about the E. coli illnesses, health department environmental health staff went to the Ambassador Restaurant to talk to the managers and to determine whether the source was food or an employee.

"What we identified as a source was an ill food handler," Frankovich said.
The restaurant is open for business, and there is no anticipated risk for further exposure, she said.

E. coli outbreak in Michigan

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Douglas Powell

Two children and one adult in the Maple Rapids area of Michigan have become infected with E. coli bacteria.  

This story from the Morning Sun is a little all over the place, but does report that two children have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome as a result of the infections and have been hospitalized.

“This strain of E.coli is very potent and troublesome,” said Dr. Robert Graham, medical director for the Mid-Michigan District Health Department. “We urge everyone to take precautions to prevent becoming infected by this germ. What’s troublesome is that these last three cases aren’t the only ones to have this particular strain of E. coli.  

Graham said that during the summer, three other cases of the same strain were reported. Those people had attended the Clinton County Fair and that strain of E. coli came from a meat packing company called McNeese, located in the thumb.

Just cook it doesn’t cut it

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Douglas Powell

Nine Michigan residents were sickened by E. coli O157:H7 of which six were hospitalized, linked to ground beef from McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC.

Jennifer Holton, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development public information officer, told those residents it was their fault.

“Even if you think it’s been cooked thoroughly, using a meat thermometer is the only true test. You don’t want any cross contamination. You don’t want to have raw meat or poultry products next to your vegetables. … Just following some of those safety tips can go a long way.”

E. coli O157:H7 and other shiga-toxin producing E. coli are difficult to control once inside a foodservice or home kitchen environment. Consumers are not the only critical control point for meat safety.

3 sick, ground beef recalled for possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Douglas Powell

Government-types love to bury the lede.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) thinks the most important part of a recall is … the recall.

I think the most important part of a recall is whether or not there are sick people.

Working in conjunction with the Michigan Departments of Community Health (MDCH) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), 3 case-patients in Michigan have been identified with illness onset dates between July 18 and July 28, 2011. As a result of the epidemiologic investigation, FSIS determined there is a link between the ground beef products and the illnesses in Michigan.

McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC., a North Branch, Mich., establishment is recalling approximately 360 pounds of ground beef product products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The products subject to recall include:
36 – 10 lb. Bags of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk.”

Each clear plastic bag bears establish number “EST. 33971” within the USDA mark of inspection. The products subject to recall were produced on July 15, and July 21, 2011, and sold to restaurants in Armada, Lapeer and North Branch, Mich. The products were also sold from a retail establishment owned by McNees Meats and Wholesale, LLC.

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