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News Alert!!: Tolleson, AZ: JBS Tolleson, Inc. recalls raw beef products due to possible salmonella Newport contamination.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, JBS Tolleson, Inc., a Tolleson, Arizona establishment, is recalling approximately 12,093,271 pounds of non-intact raw beef products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Newport, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Tuesday, December 4th, 2018.

The scope of this recall expansion now includes an additional 5,156,076 pounds of raw beef products, which were produced and packed from July 26, 2018 to Sept. 7, 2018. FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

The raw, non-intact beef items, including ground beef, were packaged on various dates from July 26, 2018 to Sept. 7, 2018. The following products are subject to recall:

**** Products List: ****

**** Product Labels: ****

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 267” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to a retail locations and institutions nationwide.

FSIS and our public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health officials, are investigating a Salmonella Newport outbreak. Please note that FSIS is continuing to investigate illnesses associated with this widespread outbreak, and additional product from other companies may also be recalled.

After FSIS Recall 085-2018 on October 4, 2018, FSIS, CDC, and state public health and agriculture partners continued to investigate the outbreak of Salmonella Newport illnesses. The epidemiological investigation has identified 246 confirmed case-patients from 25 states with illness onset dates ranging from August 5, 2018 to October 16, 2018. An additional 16 case-patients have provided receipts or shopper card numbers for the product traceback investigations. Specific traceback for three case-patients have identified JBS Tolleson, Inc., EST. 267 ground beef products that were not part of the October 4, 2018 recall. FSIS will continue to work with public health partners and provide updated information should it become available.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at:

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160°F. Other cuts of beef should be cooked to a temperature of 145 °F and allowed to rest for at least 3 minutes. The only way to confirm that ground beef or other cuts of beef are cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature:

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/safe-minimum-internal-temperature-chart/ct_index

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact the JBS USA Consumer Hotline at (800) 727-2333. Members of the media with questions regarding the recall can contact Misty Barnes, public relations specialist at JBS USA, at (970) 506-7805.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/informational/askkaren or via smartphone at: http://m.askkaren.gov

The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at:

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/report-a-problem-with-food

**** Press Release: ****

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-085-2018-EXP-release

** Pictures from the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Health and Human Services: **

Needles, CA: Needles Board of Public Utilities Meeting is today.

A Needles Board of Public Utilities Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 inside the Needles City Council Chambers located on the 1700 block of J Street near the Needles Recreation Center and Bailey Avenue in Needles, California.

The Needles Board of Public Utilities Meeting will start at 4:00pm PT.

The Needles Board of Public Utilities Meeting will be broadcast live at ZachNews on Facebook starting at 4:00pm PT.

https://www.facebook.com/ZachNews/

**** You can view the full agenda at the following City of Needles website addresses: ****

http://www.cityofneedles.com/2018%20WEBSITE%20FILE%20POSTING/2%20UTILITY%20BOARD/11%20NOVEMBER/MEETING%201/ub_110618-agendaALL.pdf

**** You can view other City of Needles meetings agendas at the following City of Needles website address: ****

http://www.cityofneedles.com/Pages/Departments-Services/Boards/2018_CITY_MEETING.html

For more information regarding the Needles Board of Public Utilities Meetings, please contact Cheryl K. Sallis at the City of Needles at: 1 (760) 326-2113 Ext. 315.

News Alert!!: North Wales, PA: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. voluntary recalls certain combinations of blood pressure medicines in the United States due to probable cancer-causing impurity.

According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall in the United States, to the patient level, of all lots of Amlodipine / Valsartan combination tablets and Amlodipine / Valsartan / Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets due to an impurity detected above specification limits in an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufactured by Mylan India. The impurity found in Mylan’s valsartan API is known as N-nitroso-diethylamine (NDEA), which has been classified as a probable human carcinogen. This chemical is typically found in very small amounts in certain foods, drinking water, air pollution, and certain industrial processes.

Amlodipine/Valsartan combination tablets and Amlodipine/Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets are used for the treatment of high blood pressure. To date, Teva has not received any reports of adverse events signaling a potential link or exposure to valsartan.

Patients taking Amlodipine / Valsartan combination tablets or Amlodipine / Valsartan / Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets are advised to continue taking their medication and to contact their pharmacist or physician for advice on alternative treatment. The risk of harm to a patient’s health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any comparable alternative treatment.

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA is notifying its distributors and customers by certified mail and is arranging for return/reimbursement of returned recalled products.  Distributors and retailers that have product that is being recalled should immediately stop distribution and quarantine any quantities remaining in their control and return the recalled product.

Patient safety and product quality is critical to Teva. As always, Teva will continue to partner with, and regularly update, all relevant stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, to resolve

this situation. This issue is not limited to valsartan medicines manufactured and distributed by Teva. Some valsartan-containing products manufactured and distributed by other pharmaceutical companies using the same API supplier may also be affected.

Lots Under Voluntary Recall

The products that are part of this voluntary recall and listed below are packed in bottles. These lots were distributed nationwide to Teva’s Direct Accounts (Wholesale/Distributor/Retail/Repackagers/VA Pharmacy, et. al).

Customers and patients with medical-related questions, information about an Adverse Event or other questions about the Teva products being recalled should contact Teva’s Medical Information by phone at: 888-838-2872, option 3, then, option 4. Live calls are received Monday-Friday, 9:00AM-5:00PM Eastern Time with Voicemail available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week or email druginfo@tevapharm.com.

Adverse reactions or other problems experienced with the use of the products may also be reported to Teva directly at 888-838-2872 or to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

• Complete and submit the report Online:  www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
• Regular Mail or Fax: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1- 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

**** Press Release: ****

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm626802.htm

** Pictures from Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and the United States Food and Drug Administration: **

San Bernardino, CA: Remembering the terrorist attack inside the Inland Regional Center three years ago today.

At 10:58am PT on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015, a gathering of people for the Christmas holiday season when a husband and wife, inspired by evil Islamic terrorist, stormed into a banquet room and began shooting at innocent people, killing 14 people and wounded 22 people, before the husband and wife terrorist attackers were shot and killed by brave members of law enforcement.

Please take a moment to remember the 14 lives taken away three years ago today in the terrorist attack inside the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California.

May we all remember the lives we lost on that day; Robert Adams‬, Isaac Amanios‬, ‪Bennetta Betbadal,‬ ‪Harry Bowman,‬ ‪Sierra Clayborn,‬ ‪Juan Espinoza,‬ ‪Aurora Godoy‬, Shannon Johnson,‬ ‪Larry Daniel Kaufman,‬ ‪Damian Meins,‬ ‪Tin Nguyen‬, ‪Nicholas Thalasinos,‬ ‪Yvette Velasco and‬ ‪Michael Wetzel‬.

We all stand united with the families and friends of the victims and know that you will never be forgotten.

May we give thanks to the many brave emergency personnel and law enforcement officers and deputies who responded to the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California on that day.

Thank you for saving lives, protecting more lives from being taken and for taking down evil.

May we always stay #SBStrong (San Bernardino Strong).

** Picture from the Barstow Sheriff’s Station, County of San Bernardino and NBC affiliate KNBC Channel 4: **