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☆ Lunchables removed from national school lunch program
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Kraft Heinz, the company that produces Lunchables, announced Tuesday that it will remove the meal kits from the National School Lunch Program. “We’re pleased that Heinz Kraft has pulled Lunchables from the school lunch program,” Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports said in a statement. “The USDA should maintain stricter eligibility standards for the school lunch programs so that the millions of kids that depend on it get the healthier options they deserve.”The National School Lunch Program –– a federally assisted program that provides low-cost and free nutritionally balanced lunches to students –– serves nearly 30 million kids, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. Sodium levels in the school lunchesTwo types of Lunchables were brought into the school lunch program last year: Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Stackers and Extra Cheesy Pizza. Consumer Reports found that the kits, which were created specifically for the school lunch program, contained even higher levels of sodium than those available in the grocery store.

Persons: CNN —, Kraft Heinz, We’re, Heinz Kraft, Brian Ronholm, – –, Tom Vilsack, “, Armour LunchMakers, Oscar Mayer, can’t, CNN’s Sandee, Parija Kavilanz Organizations: CNN, Consumer, US Department of Agriculture’s Food, Nutrition Service, ”, US Centers for Disease Control, Natural Meat, World Health Organization, CDC Locations: United States, Turkey

☆ Onions are likely source of E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s, federal agencies say; 15 additional cases reported
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Additional cases associated with the outbreak have also been reported, bringing the total number of illnesses to 90 and hospitalizations to 27. “It is not necessary to avoid eating onions or other foods made with onions,” the CDC said. Diced onions used at McDonald’s have also not been linked to this outbreak, according to the FDA. Beef patties used on Quarter Pounders were also part of the investigation, which started on October 22. McDonald’s announced on Sunday that they would resume selling Quarter Pounders in all restaurants this week, but the 900 restaurants that had previously received slivered onions from Taylor Farms would not include onions on these sandwiches.

Persons: Burger, Taco, patties, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, McDonald’s Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, CDC, Taylor, Taco Bell, KFC, FDA, Colorado Department of Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture’s, Inspection, CNN Health

☆ Boar’s Head to close Virginia plant linked to deadly listeria outbreak
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Jamie Gumbrecht | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Boar’s Head will close the Virginia plant that produced deli meat products tied to a deadly listeria outbreak, the company said on Friday. The move is part of several changes made after what it called a “dark moment in our company’s history.” Boar’s Head said it will permanently discontinue sales of liverwurst after an investigation found its production process was the root cause of the listeria contamination. It will also appoint a new food safety officer and food safety council made up of independent industry experts. But a USDA Notice of Suspension for the Virginia facility, shared by Boar’s Head, describes “inadequate controls” that allowed equipment and employees to move throughout the facility, potentially spreading bacteria. The agency called it the largest listeria outbreak since one linked to cantaloupe in 2011.

Persons: CNN — Boar’s, ” Boar’s, Boar’s, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, “, what’s Organizations: CNN, Department of Agriculture’s, CNN Health, Centers for Disease Control, listeria, CDC Locations: Virginia, Jarratt , Virginia, Jarratt

☆ Alpacas test positive for H5N1 bird flu for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Highly pathogenic avian influenza, sometimes called bird flu, has been confirmed in alpacas for the first time, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories. The animals that tested positive were on a farm in Idaho where poultry had tested positive for the virus and were culled in May. The alpacas tested positive May 16, the USDA said in a news release. The gene sequence of viruses isolated from the alpacas shows that it is closely related to the H5N1 viruses that are currently circulating in dairy cattle. Scientists have closely watched the H5N1 virus for roughly two decades.

Persons: Dr, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN, US Department of, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, USDA, CNN Health, Alpaca Owners Association, Scientists Locations: alpacas, Idaho

☆ WHO chief scientist calls for increased monitoring and preparation for highly pathogenic bird flu
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The bird flu spreading through cattle in the United States is an “enormous concern” the chief scientist of the World Health Organization said Thursday as he called for more tracking and preparation for the virus. So far, there is no evidence that the highly pathogenic H5N1 flu virus can spread from person to person. Though H5N1 doesn’t spread from person to person, humans can catch it when they’re exposed to infected animals. They are only the second documented case of human H5N1 in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that while the current risk to public health from H5N1 is low, it is monitoring the situation carefully.

Persons: Dr, Jeremy Farrar, “, Richard Webby, ”, hasn’t, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN, World Health Organization, WHO, Research, Get CNN, CNN Health, US Department of Agriculture’s, Plant Health, Services, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC Locations: United States, British, Geneva, Texas, Colorado, St, — Texas, New Mexico , Kansas, South Dakota , Idaho , Michigan , Ohio, North Carolina

☆ Tyson recalls 30,000 pounds of chicken nuggets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Tyson Foods is voluntarily recalling about 30,000 pounds of its dino-shaped chicken nuggets after some consumers reported finding small metal pieces in their patties. The recall, announced on Saturday, is for 29-ounce plastic bag packages containing frozen, “fully cooked fun nuggets breaded shaped chicken patties,” according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. There has been “one minor oral injury” associated with consumption of the nuggets, according to the USDA, but no other reports of harm so far. But officials at the agency said they were concerned consumers may still have bags of the recalled “fun nuggets” in their freezers, and advised anyone who does should discard or return the product immediately. Tyson advised purchasers and consumers of recalled nuggets to cut the UPC and date code from the packaging and call or text 1-855-382-3101.

Persons: New York CNN — Tyson, Tyson Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — Tyson Foods, US Department of Agriculture’s, Inspection Service, UPC Locations: New York, Alabama , California , Illinois , Kentucky, Michigan , Ohio , Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Arkansas

☆ Biden vows enduring federal response to Idalia and Maui fires – and sends a warning to GOP
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Republicans have criticized how Biden and the federal government responded to the Hawaii fires, though officials in the state praised the support they received from the White House. “I let each governor I spoke with know if there’s anything the states need right now, I’m ready to mobilize that support,” Biden said. Biden visited the island early last week, pledging sustained federal support for the island and its residents. Biden signed an emergency declaration Monday unlocking federal resources and said Tuesday he was in “constant contact” with authorities from Florida. The US Coast Guard is supporting search and rescue, and there are three disaster survivor assistance teams deployed in Florida.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hurricane Idalia, Biden, Deanne Criswell, Idalia, Criswell, ”, ” Biden, Ron DeSantis, Brian Kemp, Henry McMaster, DeSantis Organizations: CNN, Hurricane, FEMA, White, Ukraine, Florida Gov, Georgia Gov, South Carolina Gov, Florida Republican, Department of Energy, Republican, US Coast Guard, US Department of Agriculture’s Food, Nutrition Service, US Army Corps of Engineers Locations: Hawaii, Florida, Maui, United States of America, Georgia, East Coast, West Coast

☆ Invasive hammerhead worms are longtime New Yorkers, and they may be here to stay
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Invasive hammerhead flatworms have distinctive curved heads, striped bodies ranging in color from light yellow to dark brown, and they can secrete tetrodotoxin — a neurotoxin found in puffer fish and blue-ringed octopuses. Five species of invasive hammerhead worms — four in the genus Bipalium and one in Diversibipalium — are established in North America, said Bruce Snyder, an associate professor of biology at Georgia College and State University. Today, most hammerhead worms (also known as broadhead planarians) are concentrated in the Southeast, where they favor warm, damp habitats. Bazzano Photography/Alamy Stock PhotoTo date, more than 3,000 sightings in southeastern states of just one invasive hammerhead species — Bipalium kewense — have been shared to the citizen scientist database iNaturalist. Hammerhead tetrodotoxin, which disrupts neurons’ signaling to muscles, can sicken pets if they eat the worms, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Persons: CNN —, they’ve, Peter Ducey, ” Ducey, “, Bruce Snyder, they’re, ” Snyder, ”, Hammerhead tetrodotoxin, Ducey, adventitium, Libbie Hyman, Hyman, Snyder, it’s, ” Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN, State University of New, Georgia College, State University, US Department of, Species Information, “, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Forestry, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, ”, hammerheads, Pennsylvania State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Scientific Locations: Washington , DC, Yorkers, New York, State University of New York, Cortland, “, North America, Southeast Asia, California, Oregon, Maine, New Jersey, Long, Westchester County, New York City, Europe, Asia, Pennsylvania

☆ Johnsonville recalls Beddar With Cheddar sausages over possible plastic contamination
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Michael Nam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Sausage company Johnsonville is voluntarily recalling more than 42,000 pounds of its “Beddar With Cheddar” sausages because of possible contamination. The ready-to-eat pork links may include very thin black, fibrous strands of plastic, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. Johnsonville noted that if the fibers are consumed, the USDA believes they likely pose a low risk of adverse health effects. packages of Johnsonville Beddar with Cheddar Smoked Sausage links were produced on January 26, 2023 and have the best by 07/11/2023 C35 code date along with an establishment number of EST 34224 on the front, lower right corner. At least one incident of the plastic threads being found in the sausage has been reported but otherwise there have been no illnesses or injuries, according to Johnsonville.

Organizations: New, New York CNN —, US Department of Agriculture’s, Inspection Service, USDA, “ Consumers Locations: New York, Johnsonville, Colorado , Iowa , Kansas , Missouri , Nebraska, North Dakota , Oklahoma, Texas

☆ Super Bowl party people rejoice: Chicken wings and guacamole will cost much less this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Load up on wings and guacWing fans will like this: A pound of chicken wings is down 22% from January 2022 because of more supply. Last year at this time, the retail price for whole chicken wings was $3.38 per pound for the week of Super Bowl LVI, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s weekly retail price report. “Chicken wings were so expensive last year that consumers were looking for alternatives to serve at the party. “The dollar amount per person at this year’s Super Bowl party ultimately depends on what they drink and consume,” said Swanson. The 57th Super Bowl will take place on February 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

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