Fitness and Freebies Blog

Fitness and Freebies Blog

Deli Sandwich Recalls

QFC Recalling Deli Tuna Salad Items in Washington and Oregon
Salad Items May Contain Milk Not Identified on Label

Quality Food Centers (QFC) said today it is recalling five deli tuna salad items sold at some QFC stores in Washington and Oregon. Salad dressing used to make these items may contain milk not listed on the label. Customers should return the product to stores for a refund or replacement. The following deli-prepared items are included in the QFC recall:

Tuna Pecan Salad Sell by: Aug. 29-30
Tuna Salad-Stuffed Tomato Sell by: Aug. 29-30
Gourmet Tuna Wrap Sell by: Aug. 27-28
Custom-Prepared Whole Sandwich
      with Tuna Salad		 Prepared: Aug. 25-26
Custom-Prepared Half Sandwich
      with Tuna Salad		 Prepared: Aug. 25-26

People who are allergic to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening reaction if they consume this product. No illnesses have been reported. For most consumers, there is no safety issue with the product.

The recall includes 74 QFC stores. QFC has already contacted all customers known to have purchased these items by telephone.

Customers with questions or concerns may call 1-800-632-6900.

“Fresh from the Deli” American Sub Sandwich Recalled by Landshire, Inc. Because of Possible Health Risk

Landshire, Inc. is recalling its American Sub sandwich because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. 

The American Sub sandwiches were distributed in the Midwestern States of:  Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania.  The product was sold to Circle K Convenience Stores exclusively.  There were 812 sandwiches produced on lot number 21882.

The sandwich label identifies it as: “Fresh from the Deli” American Sub.  This is a pre-packaged, individually wrapped (clear plastic) with a black tray inside of package.  Sandwich weight is 9.75ounces (276grams).  UPC code is 9748800540.  The sandwiches involved have a lot number of 21882.  The lot number is printed in black ink on the side of the package.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling taken by the Ohio Department of Agriculture for retail food establishments.  Landshire has ceased the production and distribution of the product as the Company continues its investigation as to the source of the problem. 

Consumers who have purchased the “Fresh from the Deli” American Sub are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.  Consumers with questions may contact Landshire, Inc at 800-468-3354.

August 29th, 2008 Posted by fitnfree | Food Alerts | no comments

Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad

 Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad

Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
2 cups macaroni, uncooked
2 6-ounce cans canned tuna, water-pack
1/2 cup zucchini, chopped
1/4 cup carrots, sliced
1/3 cup onions, diced
1/4 cup salad dressing, mayonnaise type

Directions:

  1. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain.
  2. Drain tuna.
  3. Wash vegetables. Chop zucchini; slice carrots into thin slices; dice onions.
  4. Mix macaroni, tuna, and vegetables together in mixing bowl. Stir in salad dressing.
  5. Chill until ready to serve.

Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 8 minutes

4 Servings, about 1-1⁄2 cups each

Per serving:

  • Calories 405
  • Total fat 13 grams
  • Saturated fat 2 grams
  • Cholesterol 25 milligrams
  • Sodium 360 milligrams

August 27th, 2008 Posted by fitnfree | Kitchen Creations | no comments

Bottled Water: Keep it Safe

U.S. consumers have a big thirst for bottled water, buying more than 8 billion gallons of it in 2007 alone, according to the International Bottled Water Association.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water products, working to ensure that they’re safe to drink.

FDA protects consumers of bottled water through the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), which makes manufacturers responsible for producing safe, wholesome, and truthfully labeled food products.

There are regulations that focus specifically on bottled water, including

  • “standard of identity” regulations that define different types of bottled water
  • “standard of quality” regulations that set maximum levels of contaminants—including chemical, physical, microbial and radiological contaminants—allowed in bottled water
  • “current good manufacturing practice” (CGMP) regulations that require bottled water to be safe and produced under sanitary conditions

Types of Bottled Water

FDA describes bottled water as water that’s intended for human consumption and sealed in bottles or other containers with no added ingredients, except that it may contain a safe and suitable antimicrobial agent. (Fluoride may also be added within the limits set by FDA.)

The agency classifies some bottled water by its origin. Here are four of those classifications:

  1. Artesian well water. This water is collected from a well that taps an aquifer—layers of porous rock, sand and earth that contain water—which is under pressure from surrounding upper layers of rock or clay. When tapped, the pressure in the aquifer, commonly called artesian pressure, pushes the water above the level of the aquifer, sometimes to the surface. Other means may be used to help bring the water to the surface. “
  2. Mineral water. This water comes from an underground source and contains at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids. Minerals and trace elements must come from the source of the underground water. They cannot be added later.
  3. Spring water. Derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface, this water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole that taps the underground formation feeding the spring. If some external force is used to collect the water through a borehole, the water must have the same composition and quality as the water that naturally flows to the surface.
  4. Well water. This is water from a hole bored or drilled into the ground, which taps into an aquifer.
    Bottled water may be used as an ingredient in beverages, such as diluted juices or flavored bottled waters. However, beverages labeled as containing “sparkling water,” “seltzer water,” “soda water,” “tonic water,” or “club soda” aren’t included as bottled water under FDA’s regulations. These beverages are instead considered to be soft drinks.

 It May Be Tap Water

Some bottled water also comes from municipal sources—in other words, the tap. Municipal water is usually treated before it is bottled. Examples of water treatments include

Distillation. Water is turned into a vapor, leaving minerals behind. Vapors are then condensed into water again.

Reverse osmosis. Water is forced through membranes to remove minerals.

Absolute 1 micron filtration. Water flows through filters that remove particles larger than one micron—.00004 inches—in size. These particles include Cryptosporidium, a parasitic pathogen that can cause gastrointestinal illness. 

Bottled water that has been treated by distillation, reverse osmosis, or another suitable process may meet standards that allow it to be labeled as “purified water.”

Ensuring Quality and Safety

Federal quality standards for bottled water were first adopted in 1973. They were based on U.S. Public Health Service standards for drinking water set in 1962.

The 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act gave regulatory oversight of public drinking water (tap water) to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). FDA subsequently took responsibility, under the FD&C Act, for ensuring that the quality standards for bottled water are compatible with EPA standards for tap water.

Now each time the EPA establishes a standard for a contaminant, FDA either adopts it for bottled water or finds that the standard isn’t necessary for bottled water.

In some cases, standards for bottled water and tap water differ. For example, because lead can leach from pipes as water travels from water utilities to home faucets, EPA has set its limit for lead in tap water at 15 parts per billion (ppb). For bottled water, for which lead pipes aren’t used, the lead limit is set at 5 ppb.

For bottled water production, bottlers must follow the CGMP regulations put in place and enforced by FDA. Water must be sampled, analyzed, and found to be safe and sanitary. These regulations also require proper plant and equipment design, bottling procedures, and recordkeeping.

In addition, FDA oversees inspections of bottling plants. The agency inspects bottled water plants under its general food safety program and has states perform some plant inspections under contract. (Some states also require bottled water firms to be licensed annually.)

For More Information
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Bottled Water Regulations

August 26th, 2008 Posted by fitnfree | To Your Health! | no comments

Weighty Weekend?

Do good Monday through Friday on your diet, and what do you get?

The weekend, and that’s not good.

Susan Racette of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that. She says most dieters have trouble losing weight on the weekends, when people don’t pay as much attention to what they eat.

These findings help explain why diets don’t always work like we want them to.

Racette says dieters should weigh themselves daily so they know how they are doing.

She also says dieters could plan ahead by packing their own food.

“If you’re going to be out running errands, or if you’re going to be at your child’s sports events, and you’re going to be at the field all day, it doesn’t have to be anything fancy but grabbing a few things on your way out the door to have some healthy, lower-calorie choices can be very helpful.”  

The study in the journal Obesity was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

August 25th, 2008 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments

Protective acids

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Eating healthy vegetable oils and fish regularly can help your heart. These foods have special fatty acids called omega-3. The body does not make omega-3 by itself, so it’s important we make them a part of our diet.

Omega-3s are in some vegetable oils, as well as in fish and walnuts.

Dr. Hannia Campos of the Harvard School of Public Health says even small amounts of omega-3s could help.

She led a study in Costa Rica, where people get much less omega-3s than we do in the United States.

“We found that high levels of omega-3 fatty acid were linked with a 59 percent reduction in the risk of getting a heart attack.” (7 seconds)

The study in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

August 21st, 2008 Posted by fitnfree | Fit Facts | no comments

Safety and Food Packaging

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for ensuring the safety of all food packaging, including components of packaging materials that are expected to migrate into food. The agency refers to these materials as “food contact substances.” Examples include coatings on cans, plastics, paper, and sealants for lids and caps.

The Office of Food Additive Safety in FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is charged with ensuring that food contact substances are safe. “Safe” is defined in the law as a reasonable certainty that a substance is not harmful under the intended conditions of use. FDA regulates components of food packaging under the laws governing the use of food additives.

Requiring High Safety Standards
Manufacturers are required to obtain approval from FDA for all packaging components that may migrate to food before they can be marketed unless those components are considered “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).

To obtain approval for a new food contact substance, manufacturers submit detailed information to FDA about the substance and its impurities. This includes safety and chemical information, as well as potential environmental effects. FDA does not approve food contact substances if they have been shown to cause cancer in humans or animals.

Though packaging components that are considered generally recognized as safe for use in food or food packaging do not require FDA approval under the law, they are required to meet the same safety standards as other food contact substances.

These same standards also are required for other components of packaging that were authorized informally (“prior sanctioned”) before FDA gained premarket approval authority over food contact substances in 1958.

Evaluating Consumer Exposure
Safety assessments ensure that consumers are only exposed to food contact substances at levels far below those that might have any health consequences.

As part of the review process, FDA scientists consider the amount of a substance that’s expected to migrate into food relative to its safety profile. Agency scientists assess the amount of a substance migrating into food using a variety of data and information, including:

Conducting migration testing: FDA scientists have developed tests to assess the migration of compounds from a food contact substance into food. These migration tests mimic the conditions under which food is prepared and stored in contact with packaging materials. Migration tests also model the most severe conditions of use of the material.

Assessing cumulative dietary exposure: FDA scientists consider other uses of a food contact substance and/or its components to determine a cumulative dietary exposure. Additionally, when FDA scientists assess consumer exposure they assess exposure to the food contact substance and all of its components that may migrate to food from the proposed use.

Reviewing stability data: Data on the relative stability of food contact substances are an important part of FDA’s safety review of new packaging and other food contact materials. FDA requests stability data from manufacturers to ensure that breakdown of the food contact substance does not occur under the conditions of use. If it does occur, all breakdown products from the food contact substance must be appropriately identified and quantified. Approval is only granted with appropriate limitations and specifications to ensure that the food contact substance is safely used.

Evaluating research: FDA reviews all pertinent safety data. Agency toxicologists perform searches for additional data in the published literature and within FDA’s own files. Any and all relevant data are then considered in determining whether the intended use of the food contact substance is safe.

If Concerns are Raised Later
As with any FDA regulated product, safety assessments of food contact substances are made in the context of the science at the time the decision is made. For this reason, FDA scientists also monitor new information that may relate to the safety of already authorized food contact substances.

When the science evolves or new information becomes available that causes FDA to question a previous safety decision, the agency may take one or more of several actions:

  1. contacting the manufacturer and ensuring that corrective action is taken
  2. removing the food contact substance from the market completely or imposing limits to ensure its safe use
  3. requiring that industry develop data or information to address a concern
  4. imposing additional limitations or specifications to ensure safe conditions of use
  5. prohibiting the use of a food contact substance that is no longer considered safe

The specific action that FDA takes generally depends on the likely public health risk. Any imminent danger to health is acted upon immediately with a recall or regulatory action.

August 19th, 2008 Posted by fitnfree | Food Facts | no comments

Chocolate Covered Bacon?

 Bacon makes everything better, even… chocolate?
It sounds so wrong — but for some, these ingredients just taste so right

Whoa! How’s that for a “pairing”???

I can’t quite imagine how this would taste – and don’t really think I’m all that eager to give it a try.  What do you think  – would you like to try this?  Apparently a lot of people found they really liked this chocolate-covered bacon treat…

At Marini’s candy shop at the Boardwalk amusement park in Santa Cruz, Calif., chocolate-coated bacon was a complete accident. “It was kind of a joke to begin with,” said the owner, Joseph Marini III.

August 18th, 2008 Posted by fitnfree | Food Facts | no comments

Whole Foods Market Recall

Whole Foods Market® Issues Recall on 365 Organic Everyday Value™ Popcorn Lightly Salted Due to Undeclared Dairy Allergen

Whole Foods Market today is recalling 365 Organic Everyday Value Popcorn, Lightly Salted because it may contain undeclared milk ingredients. The popcorn in these packages was incorrectly flavored with a white cheddar seasoning which includes milk ingredients; the seasoning may not be visibly apparent. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk ingredients run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

This product was distributed to and sold in Whole Foods Market retail stores in California, Arizona, Nevada, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oregon, New Jersey, New York and Washington.

The product is sold in a blue and white 5 ounce bag with a picture of popcorn in a red and white container. The product is labeled as 365 Organic Everyday Value Organic Popcorn, Lightly Salted with a UPC of 9948240552. The recalled product’s lot code is stamped on the front top right corner and reads “Sell By 10/28/08″ or “Sell By 10/29/08″.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product containing milk ingredients was incorrectly packaged in bags that did not reveal the presence of milk ingredients. Subsequent investigations indicate the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the producer’s packaging processes.

Consumers who have purchased 365 Organic Popcorn Lightly Salted with a lot code of “Sell By 10/28/08″ or “Sell By 10/29/08″ are urged to return it to any Whole Foods Market for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 512-542-0656.

August 15th, 2008 Posted by fitnfree | Food Alerts | no comments

Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salad Recall

Home Made Brand Foods is voluntarily recalling approximately 4890 pounds of Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salad with an expiration date of 8/19/08. This product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The following products are subject to recall:

  • 99/ 5 lbs. units of “Home Made Brand Foods Tuna Salad” dated 8/19/08 expiration
  • 412/10 lb. units of “Stop and Shop Tuna Salad” dated 8/19/08 expiration
  • 366/12 oz. units of “Stop and Shop Tuna Salad” dated 8/19/08 expiration

The problem was discovered after routine sampling at the customer level and subsequent analysis of the product by an independent laboratory which found the product to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. All product lots produced prior to and after the above listed affected lot were found to be negative for Listeria monocytogenes through independent laboratory analysis.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Consumers who have purchased the Tuna Salad should not consume it, but should return it to the place of purchase. Consumers with questions may contact Rick Walters at (978) 462-3663 ext 314.

August 12th, 2008 Posted by fitnfree | Food Alerts | no comments

Corn Syrup Gets Unfair Rap

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has unfairly found itself with a bad reputation.

For years, nutrition activists have campaigned against the corn-based sweetener, claiming that its beet-derived cousin, table sugar, was supposedly healthier because it was “natural.” But many experts disagree.

And now the American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted the all-sugars-are-created-equal position. After examining related research, the medical organization announced yesterday that table sugar and HFCS function identically with regard to weight gain and loss.

Read: AMA finds high fructose syrup unlikely to be more harmful to health than other caloric sweetners

August 12th, 2008 Posted by fitnfree | Food Facts | no comments