In the news

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that Riveriene Farm Ltd. o/a Carnivora Pet Foods, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CANADA Carnivora recalled Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs and Cats due to E. coli 0157:H7 contamination. On 08 and 10 June 2020, Carnivora™ was contacted by the Public Health Agency of Canada to report that four individuals were diagnosed with E. coli 0157:H7 between February 14 and May 16, 2020. All four had Carnivora™ brand raw pet food as a common product. Two individuals have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. The products recalled are Carnivora Brand Whole Animal Chicken Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats; Carnivora Brand Chicken Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit; Carnivora Brand Whole Animal Beef Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats; Carnivora Brand Beef Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit; Carnivora Brand Whole Animal Turkey Diet, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats; and Carnivora Brand Turkey Diet. The contaminated product might cause cross-contamination and illness after handling this pet food. As of June 12, 2020, the company has been made aware of 4 reports of illnesses in Canada. Approximately 1,803 units of the affected product were sold in Canada. The affected products were sold from January 13, 2020, to June 2020.CFIA is recommending not to feed any recalled Carnivora brand frozen raw pet food products to their pets. As the investigation is ongoing, additional products may be identified. @ https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2020/73337r-eng.php

NOW Health Group, Inc. (NOW), of Bloomingdale, Illinois, recalled a lot of NOW Real Food® Raw Macadamia Nuts, Unsalted, 8 oz. pouch ( Product Code 7119, Lot#3141055) because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The lot was distributed online and in retail stores nationwide. NOW became aware of the potential contamination after routine sampling in a later lot of finished product (which contained the same lot of raw material as used in the recalled lot) found Salmonella. The following finished product lot was not released and remained quarantined. NOW has provided information on this recall to all its retailers and has encouraged retailers to contact their customers to facilitate the return of affected products. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/now-health-group-inc-voluntarily-recalls-now-real-food-rraw-macadamia-nuts-because-possible-health

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Lakeside Refrigerated Services, from Swedesboro, N.J. recalled ~42,922 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, today. 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF”; 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES”; 3-lb. vacuum packages containing three 1 lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN / 7% FAT”; 1-lb. tray packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT”; 4-lb. tray packages containing 10 ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 80% LEAN / 20% FAT”; 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT”; 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “VALUE PACK FRESH GROUND BEEF 76% LEAN / 24% FAT”. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide. The problem was discovered during routine FSIS testing. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2020/recall-012-2020-release

The Packer reported that asparagus harvesting in Ontario, Canada was halted after 164 migrant workers at a farm tested positive for COVID-19. The workers are self-isolating at hotels and on-farm bunkhouses. Four of the workers remained hospitalized, two of whom were in intensive care. Farm leaders worked with the local health department to contain the spread of the virus. The farmworkers were employed by Scotlynn Group in Vittoria, Ontario.  The lack of skilled workers to harvest the crop caused a loss of 8-10% of the province’s more than 3,700 acres of asparagus. The Canadian federal government requires agricultural workers arriving from out of the country to complete 14 days of self-isolation, according to the health unit and Solymar. Some complete their self-isolation period at on-farm housing. Most growers did not have enough help for harvesting this season. However, there is no shortage of asparagus in stores. @ https://www.thepacker.com/article/covid-19-outbreak-affects-ontario-asparagus-harvest