Monthly Archives: October 2014

Texas Firm Recalls Boudin Products Due To Possible Temperature Abuse

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FSIS Photo


WASHINGTON – Carlton Foods, a New Braunfels, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 25,764 pounds of fresh Boudin products, which were produced with pre-cooked rice that may have experienced temperature abuse and may contain an emetic toxin produced by Bacillus cereus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The Boudin (sausage-like) products were produced on Aug. 22, 2014, through Oct. 17, 2014. The following products are subject to recall:

  • 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “RICHARD’S HICKORY SMOKED BOUDIN”
  • 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “RICHARD’S PREMIUM BOUDIN”
  • 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “RICHARD’S ‘HOT’ PREMIUM BOUDIN”
  • 16-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “RICHARD’S PREMIUM BOUDIN”
  • 32-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “RICHARD’S CAJUN GRILLERS BOUDIN”

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 1943” or “EST. 961” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Products with the EST. 961 inside the mark of inspection would also have NB printed on the label. “Sell By” dates for the recalled products range from Oct. 28, 2014, to Dec. 16, 2014. The products were shipped to retail locations in Louisiana and Texas.

The problem was discovered by FSIS personnel during a Food Safety Assessment. During production, FSIS personnel observed pre-cooked rice, a component of the Boudin, being held at unsafe temperatures which could result in the products containing an emetic toxin produced by Bacillus cereus.

Bacillus cereus is a type of bacteria that can be found in a variety of foods, particularly rice that has been stored too long at room temperature. Emetic toxins produced by Bacillus cereus are characterized by nausea and vomiting occurring within 30 minutes to six hours after consumption of contaminated foods.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

Williams prepares for Mountain Village Holiday

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640-141029-18WILLIAMS – The trees are starting to look bare as the beautiful fall colors are starting to give way to the coming winter. The long range forecast shows a possibility of snow on Sunday. The city is stringing lights. The Pumpkin Patch train ended and the Grand Canyon Railway Haunted Train has given way to Christmas lights in preparation for Mountain Village Holiday. The annual Mountain Village Holiday begins Thanksgiving weekend and runs through the new year.

The Grand Canyon Railway is also preparing the Polar Express which starts November 7 and runs through the new year.

The City of Williams has sent applications for the annual lighting contest and they may also be picked up at the City Hall on First Street.

300-MVH-1Mountain Village Holiday kicks off with the annual lighting of the Christmas tree on Second Street and a Parade of Lights. During this period the Young Life camp hosts a Thanksgiving dinner and the Kiwanis Club hosts a community dinner.

There is still plenty of Halloween, of course. The scarecrows still adorn Route 66. Bearizona ends their Howly Growly Owly Festival tomorrow. Their new cave display of small creatures of the west—such as mice, scorpions and Ringtail Cats—will remain.

The First Baptist and Family Harvest Churches, across from Safeway on Grant, will hold safe activities for the kids.

Of course trick-or-treating of the houses and businesses on Route 66 will still be available.

Just after Halloween, the weather forecast shows a chance of rain on Saturday with a low of 37. Sunday there is a 30% chance of snow with accumulations of less than a half-inch. A high of 47 is possible during the day dropping to 23-degrees overnight. Fair weather returns Monday with highs around 50-degrees during the day dropping to the mid-20s at night.

View the skies Friday Night

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WILLIAMS – The long range forecast shows mostly clear for the Friday night. So the star gazing sponsored by the Coconino County Astronomical Society should be good. The viewing will be held at the field on Route 66 across from Rod’s Steak House from 7 to 9 pm. Everyone is welcome to bring their own telescope or use their equipment for the viewing. You can even bring binoculars and the Society will show you how you can use them for some good viewing.

Whole Foods Market Melrose Recalls Vegan Gingersnap Cookies Due to Mislabeling and Undeclared Allergens

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ucm420686Cambridge, MA – Whole Foods Market is recalling “Vegan Gingersnap Cookies” produced and sold only in the Melrose, Massachusetts location due to a labeling error that resulted in undeclared tree nut, milk, soy and egg allergens. The product has a “Sell By” date of October 28, 2014.

The six-packs of cookies labeled as “Vegan Gingersnap Cookies” contained tree nuts (walnut and almond), milk, soy and egg, known allergens, which are not declared on the label. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to those ingredients run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The cookies were sold in the store between October 23 and October 26, 2014.

Signage is posted to notify customers of this recall, and all affected product has been removed from shelves.

No allergic reactions or illnesses have been reported.

Consumers who have purchased this product from Whole Foods Market Melrose may bring their receipt to the store for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact their local store or call 617-492-5500 between the hours of 9am and 5pm EST.

As the World Trades: Leaders to discuss Arizona’s place in global economy

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i11PHOENIX — Leaders from Arizona’s transportation, trade and commerce industries will come together with national and international business specialists next week to discuss Arizona’s stake in the global marketplace and strategies to foster international trade and economic growth.

The Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance, a partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona-Mexico Commission and the Arizona Commerce Authority, is hosting a steering committee meeting, followed by its second annual global trade forum on Nov. 6 in downtown Phoenix. The two events will bring together leaders from the state’s transportation and trade industries, along with business experts from the United States, Canada and Israel, with a focus on attracting international company investments and partnerships to Arizona.

Registration is still open for the event, which will be held at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown in the Encanto Ballroom, 340 N. Third Street in Phoenix. Visit azmc.org to register. The cost is $35 to attend. The TTCA Steering Committee meeting will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by the As the World Trades II forum from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., then ending with a hosted reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Guest speakers include:

  • Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles
  • Kerry Dewberry, controller with Magellan Aerospace
  • Ed Hadley, southwest region president of Walton Development and Management
  • Glenn Williamson, CEO and founder of the Canada Arizona Business Council
  • Bruce Wright, associate vice president of Tech Parks Arizona at the University of Arizona

The Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance recently completed its Roadmap, a comprehensive document designed to support moving Arizona toward a more globally competitive second century, focused on high-value trade and investment, market connectivity, and alignment of policy and actions. The Roadmap was constructed by a group of experts from the public and private sectors, brought together by Governor Jan Brewer to develop a plan to position Arizona in a fast-growing global marketplace.

The result of more than a year of work, the TTCA Roadmap makes a clear case for the need to continue to add modern and efficient transportation infrastructure to ensure Arizona’s connectivity to both domestic and global markets. This infrastructure connectivity provides the means to attract new businesses and industries, create jobs, foster trade and economic development, and secure investment and new wealth.

Nutek Disposables, Inc. Issues Alert Due to Potential Bacteria in Baby Wipes

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FDA Photo. Sample Only. See Table.

MCELHATTAN, PA — Nutek Disposables, Inc. of McElhattan, PA has initiated a nationwide voluntary product recall at the retail level of all lots of baby wipes that it manufactured under the brand names Cuties, Diapers.com, Femtex, Fred’s, Kidgets, Member’s Mark, Simply Right, Sunny Smiles, Tender Touch, and Well Beginnings, because some packages may contain bacteria. These wipes were distributed by Nutek prior to October 21, 2014 to the following retail stores: Walgreens, Sam’s Club, Family Dollar, Fred’s, and Diapers.com.

After receiving a small number of complaints of odor and discoloration, Nutek conducted microbial testing that showed the presence of a bacteria, called Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia), in some of these products. Soon after, on October 3, 2014 the company initiated a voluntary withdrawal of lots that had tested positive for the bacteria, as well as other baby wipes in the surrounding time frame. After some additional lots were tested, as a precautionary measure, Nutek believed it was a prudent decision to withdraw all its baby wipe products.

B. cepacia poses little medical risk to healthy people. However, people who have certain health problems like weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis, may be more susceptible to infections with B. cepacia. If you believe you have a weakened immune system or chronic lung disease and you have used one of the affected wipe products, you should call your doctor promptly for medical advice.

As of October 3, 2014, the date of the original withdrawal, the company had received only one report of irritation. Numerous reports of complaints have since been received by the company that include rash, irritation, infections, fever, gastro-intestinal issues, and respiratory issues, though these reports have not been confirmed to be related to the use of these products.

The company has not identified the cause of the problem, but is continuing to investigate. In the interim, Nutek has stopped shipping baby wipes manufactured at the facility.

Nutek takes the safety of consumers and the quality of its products very seriously and is taking all appropriate steps to address the issue and ensure this does not happen again.

The company is working with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the affected retailers and distributors throughout this process to address the issue.
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Brand Name Retailer Lot Numbers of Product Manufactured by Nutek
Cuties Internet and various retailers All Lots
Diapers.com Diapers.com All Lots
Femtex Family Dollar All Lots
Fred’s Fred’s All Lots
Kidgets Family Dollar All Lots
Member’s Mark Sam’s Club All Lots
Simply Right Sam’s Club All Lots
Sunny Smiles Walgreens All Lots
Tender Touch Various retailers All Lots
Well Beginnings* Walgreens Certain Lots±
*These lot numbers represent all lots manufactured by Nutek. There may be other lots that are made by manufacturers other than Nutek and that are not subject to this recall.

Prescribed Fires Continue to Restore the Landscape

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Kaibab Forest burn crews watch the line along Perkinsville Road.

Kaibab Forest burn crews watch the line along Perkinsville Road.

WILLIAMS – With the primary objective of protecting the Williams, AZ watershed, fire managers will continue prescribed burning operations south of Bill Williams Mountain in the Twin project areas, during the week of October 26, 2014. This on-going effort to remove accumulated hazardous fuels is part of the multi-dimensional process of accelerated forest restoration taking place over time.

The Twin project areas are located on the southern base of Bill Williams Mountain immediately north of FR 122, also known as the Twin Springs Road. The planned project area is approximately 620 acres and smoke impacts are expected to be light to moderate. Smoke may be visible from Williams, AZ and surrounding communities, Interstate 40, State Route 89 and County Road 73.

All prescribed fire activity is dependent on regional Forest Service approval, personnel availability, weather – including winds and ventilation, and approval from the ADEQ.

Lights from a Friday night high school football game shine through smoke settling over Williams.

Lights from a Friday night high school football game shine through smoke settling over Williams.