Food Hygiene News - October 4, 2019

Posted by Nathan Pearce on October 04, 2019

Food Hygiene News - October 4, 2019

In this episode:

• Flour Recall - King Arthur Flour
• Medication Recall - Zantac (ranitidine)
• What happens after an FDA warning is posted?
• Non-profit of the week: "Rural Area Veterinary Services"

 

 

Flour Recall - King Arthur Flour

Back in June of this year, King Arthur Flour had a limited recall for some of its unbleached, all-purpose flour due to e.coli contamination. That recall was expanded yesterday, the 3rd of October, to include quite a few more lots of its unbleached, all-purpose flour, including 25 pound bags sold at Costco. Check the link here to see if your flour is on the list.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/association-adm-milling-co-king-arthur-flour-inc-expands-recall-unbleached-all-purpose-flour-5-lb-25

 

Medication Recall - Zantac (ranitidine)

Last week we shared information about a blood pressure medication recall. This week it’s something a lot more people might have in their cabinet - the generic version of Zantac, called ranitidine - which is recalled due to the presence of an impurity that’s linked to cancer. Walgreens, Rite-Aid, and CVS are also pulling Zantac off the shelves, in an abundance of caution based on an FDA statement made earlier this month about the presence of the impurity in Zantac as well.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/apotex-corp-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-ranitidine-tablets-75mg-and-150mg-all-pack-sizes-and

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sandoz-inc-issues-voluntary-recall-ranitidine-hydrochloride-capsules-150mg-and-300mg-due-elevated

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/health/zantac-recall-cancer.html

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/statement-alerting-patients-and-health-care-professionals-ndma-found-samples-ranitidine

 

What happens after an FDA warning is posted?

Did you know that tattoo inks are regulated by the FDA under cosmetics? In May of this year, six types of tattoo ink were recalled due to bacterial contamination. The FDA just posted the letter to one of the companies that explains what bacteria contaminated the inks, as well as suggestions for how to move forward to prevent contamination from happening again in the future. It’s an interesting read.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/color-art-inc-dba-solid-ink-587248-09182019

 

Non-Profit of the Week: "Rural Area Veterinary Services"

We’re breaking the mold a little bit with this week’s non-profit, and featuring Rural Area Veterinary Services. From their website:

“Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS) is a non-profit veterinary outreach program combining community service and veterinary mentorship to bring free veterinary services to underserved rural communities where poverty and geographic isolation make regular veterinary care inaccessible.

Each year six RAVS staff members and more than 350 volunteers provide essential veterinary care for more than 8,000 animals, all at no cost to the clients or communities we serve. In addition the program provides valuable training and experience for hundreds of future veterinary professionals that goes far beyond anything they could learn in a classroom alone.”

Categories:

• food hygiene