8.7 MILLION POUNDS OF U.S. MEAT RECALLED

by:Doc Swagg

A meat processing company, Rancho Feeding Corp, has been implicated in the distribution of over 8.7 million pounds of “diseased & unsound” meat.  A CLASS 1 LEVEL recall has been issued for the following meat designations: USDA mark of inspection “EST.527”, and production dates from January 1st through January 7th of 2014.

4 states have been noted to have received the distribution of beef carcasses that bypassed inspection.  The following states are being reviewed: California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas.  A Class 1 level recall is listed as being the most serious recall classification, and noted to have the capability to cause serious adverse health consequences and even death.

Thoughts

It’s imperative that we try our best to begin sourcing our own food, growing our food, and paying meticulous attention to the meat and produce we are purchasing.  Routine recalls and negligent processing and inspection practices are putting us at various health risks.

We are feeding our kids, and elders this food, and they may not have the immune system to combat food borne illnesses that can lurk in the meat we purchase and are more vulnerable to death or severe sickness.

The fact that more than 8.7 million pounds of meat can bypass thorough inspection is a signal of the breakdown in the processing and distribution chain.  We eat to live and maintain optimal physical performance on a daily basis, but it appears that our very own consumption is killing us because of a lack of due diligence.

This is the news release for the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service division:  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2014/recall-013-2014-release

Uncle Ben’s Infused rice recall: who’s inspecting?

By: Doc Swagg

The Mars company is the parent company of Uncle Ben’s Mexican Style, and other INFUSED RICE that has been implicated in a series of  “allergic-like” reactions that several school children have succumbed to recently.

According to news sources, children in 3 Texas schools are suffering from bouts of rashes and flushing.  Mars food company is requesting all distributors of this particular brand of Uncle Bens rice immediately return them in efforts to track and detect the source and distribution of the rice.

Currently, they have not identified the causative agent responsible for these symptoms.  The company is on record for saying that this is not consistent with all other styles of rice that they manufacture through various supermarkets, and other retail outlets.

Thoughts on this

Once again, we are witnessing a failure in the safeguarding of our food supply.  Persistent compromise of our nutritional and dietary sources have almost become routine and “habit-like”.

Where is the accountability when it comes to maintaining quality assured food production?  What happened to good manufacturing practices?  A lack of integrity, the cutting of corners, and failure of adequate inspection are just the beginning of possible reasons for this surge in FOOD RECALLS.  Last week there was a recall on approximately 8.7 million pounds of meat in four states.

We are seeing a failure in oversight, and these cases of food borne illnesses, recalls, and selling of poisoned meat are only indicators of poor food inspection standards.  The Department of Agriculture could obviously higher and train more employees to conduct thorough inspections in all states.  This is one way to reinforce the safety of our foods, and decrease the unemployment rate!  What are your thoughts on this???

Source Links

1.   http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/10/health/uncle-bens-infused-rice-recall/index.html

2.  http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/10/uncle-bens-infused-rice-recall-children-sick/5362573/