NEWS SCAN: Multiple food recalls, traveler screening for H5N1

Mar 3, 2010

Multiple foodstuffs subject to recalls
A number of different foods have been recalled this week for a variety of contamination issues. In Portland, Ore., the OM Seafood Co. has recalled oysters that were harvested from Oregon’s Yaquina Bay by Oregon Oyster Farms and were distributed to nine other states. The recalled oysters, which are both in the shell and also shucked in a range of containers, are believed to be contaminated with norovirus. In Asheboro, N.C., the Randolph Packing Co. has recalled 96,000 pounds of beef that may be contaminated with E coli O157:H7; the beef is packaged in boneless beef, knuckles, or beef ribeye rolls and was produced on Feb 25, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture. And a wide range of processed foods have been recalled because they contain hydrolyzed vegetable protein, manufactured by Basic Food Flavors Inc. of Las Vegas, that is suspected of containing Salmonella. Those foods include powdered au jus mix made by Johnny’s Fine Foods of Tacoma, Wash.; Oak Lake and Great Value dips made by T. Marzetti of Columbus, Ohio; chicken soup base made by Castella Imports of Hauppage, N.Y.; and Hawaiian-style potato chips and onion rings made by Tim's Cascade Snacks of Algona, Wash. The product recalls were announced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Basic Food Flavors has posted a list of its recalled products on its website.
Mar 3 Coos Bay World story on oyster recall
Mar 2 USDA FSIS announcement
Feb 26 FDA Johnny’s Fine Foods recall notice
Mar 1 FDA T. Marzetti Co. recall notice
Mar 2 FDA Castella Imports, Inc. recall notice
Mar 2 FDA Tim’s Cascade Snacks recall notice

South Korea scrutinizes travelers from Vietnam for flu
The government of South Korea said Tuesday it will increase inspection of any travelers from Vietnam in response to deaths in Vietnam from H5N1 avian influenza. Tourists and others who travel from Vietnam into South Korea will be subject to mandatory temperature checks to detect fever. South Koreans visiting Vietnam are being asked to stay away from any chickens or other poultry. The government said the moves were triggered by the death last week of a 38-year-old Vietnamese woman, that country’s first H5N1-related fatality and second case in 2010. Since then, Vietnam has also announced a second death, of a 17-year-old girl.
Mar 2 Yonhap News story
Mar 2 Saigon Times story