Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sara Lee will fire 1700 workers
Sara Lee Corp. announced Monday it will lay off almost 1,700 workers and close a pork plant as a part of its restructuring plan. The Downers Grove, Ill.-based company will release 1,200 workers from its pork processing and spice production facilities in West Point, Miss., when they close on March 30.
This will be quite a blow to the West Point area of Mississippi. Where will these people go?
This will be quite a blow to the West Point area of Mississippi. Where will these people go?
Arkansas Firm Recalls Ground Meat due to E.Coli
Recall Release
CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-008-2007
HEALTH RISK: HIGH
Congressional and Public Affairs (202) 720-9113Amanda Eamich
WASHINGTON, January 29, 2007- The Natural State Meat Co., a Batesville, Ark., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 4,240 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The products subject to recall include: Various sized bags (between one- and 25- pounds) of "Meacham Packing Company, HAMBURGER."
Various sized bags (between one- and 10-pounds) of "Meacham Packing Company, Beef Ground Chuck."
Each package bears the establishment number “Est. 10692” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.
The ground beef products were produced on various dates between January 19 and 26, 2007 and were distributed to retail establishments and institutions in Independence County, Arkansas.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.
Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact company Co-owner Eric Mohlke at (870) 793-7541.
CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-008-2007
HEALTH RISK: HIGH
Congressional and Public Affairs (202) 720-9113Amanda Eamich
WASHINGTON, January 29, 2007- The Natural State Meat Co., a Batesville, Ark., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 4,240 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The products subject to recall include: Various sized bags (between one- and 25- pounds) of "Meacham Packing Company, HAMBURGER."
Various sized bags (between one- and 10-pounds) of "Meacham Packing Company, Beef Ground Chuck."
Each package bears the establishment number “Est. 10692” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.
The ground beef products were produced on various dates between January 19 and 26, 2007 and were distributed to retail establishments and institutions in Independence County, Arkansas.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.
Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact company Co-owner Eric Mohlke at (870) 793-7541.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Turtle Thought Extinct Found in Thailand
Thai villagers have caught a river terrapin turtle that was thought to be extinct in the country, a leading conservation group said Wednesday.
The female turtle - known for its egg-shaped shell and upturned snout - was found Jan. 3 in a mangrove canal in Phang Nga province on the country's Andaman coast, said the World Wide Fund for Nature-Thailand. It was the first time the species was found in Thailand in two decades, the WWF said.
"The discovery of a species that was believed to be extinct in Thailand is considered to be a very important event and it shows that the natural habitat, in which it was found is still rich and should be conserved," said WWF official Songpol Tippayawong.
Villagers from Klong Tum were out fishing when they spotted the turtle - about 20 inches long and weighing 62 pounds - as it was on its way to nest, the WWF said. They sold it to another villager who then alerted local conservation authorities.
The turtle, which is designated as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union, has been turned over to a district fisheries office and it will raised in captivity, the WWF said. It will eventually be released back into the wild.
"Normally, turtles caught like this would have been eaten by the local people," Songpol said. "The turtle was initially sold but the villager who bought it had a conservation mind-set. This turtle was pretty lucky."
The turtles - which can be found in other parts of Asia along the Andaman Coast and the South China Sea - have seen their numbers reduced drastically in recent years, mostly due to poaching of their eggs, pollution and habitat loss.
The female turtle - known for its egg-shaped shell and upturned snout - was found Jan. 3 in a mangrove canal in Phang Nga province on the country's Andaman coast, said the World Wide Fund for Nature-Thailand. It was the first time the species was found in Thailand in two decades, the WWF said.
"The discovery of a species that was believed to be extinct in Thailand is considered to be a very important event and it shows that the natural habitat, in which it was found is still rich and should be conserved," said WWF official Songpol Tippayawong.
Villagers from Klong Tum were out fishing when they spotted the turtle - about 20 inches long and weighing 62 pounds - as it was on its way to nest, the WWF said. They sold it to another villager who then alerted local conservation authorities.
The turtle, which is designated as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union, has been turned over to a district fisheries office and it will raised in captivity, the WWF said. It will eventually be released back into the wild.
"Normally, turtles caught like this would have been eaten by the local people," Songpol said. "The turtle was initially sold but the villager who bought it had a conservation mind-set. This turtle was pretty lucky."
The turtles - which can be found in other parts of Asia along the Andaman Coast and the South China Sea - have seen their numbers reduced drastically in recent years, mostly due to poaching of their eggs, pollution and habitat loss.
Class I Recall for Sausages
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2007 - Gold Star Sausage Co., Inc, a Denver, Colo., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 15,514 pounds of sausage products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The following products are subject to recall:
One-pound packages of "MAVERICK RANCH BEEF FRANKS, 6 SKINLESS FRANKS." Each package bears a "sell by" date of "2/14/07," "2/21/07" or "2/28/07."
One-pound packages of "MAVERICK RANCH BUFFALO FRANKS, 6 SKINLESS FRANKS." Each package bears a "sell by" date of "12/27/06," "1/3/07," "1/10/07," "2/14/07," "2/21/07" or "2/28/07."
Five-pound packages of "BEEF FRANKS, PRODUCT CODE MF55-0606-15." These products were packaged on "12/09/06."
Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 1106" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The sausage products were distributed to retail and institutional establishments in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah.
For the full story: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_002_2007_Release/index.asp
The following products are subject to recall:
One-pound packages of "MAVERICK RANCH BEEF FRANKS, 6 SKINLESS FRANKS." Each package bears a "sell by" date of "2/14/07," "2/21/07" or "2/28/07."
One-pound packages of "MAVERICK RANCH BUFFALO FRANKS, 6 SKINLESS FRANKS." Each package bears a "sell by" date of "12/27/06," "1/3/07," "1/10/07," "2/14/07," "2/21/07" or "2/28/07."
Five-pound packages of "BEEF FRANKS, PRODUCT CODE MF55-0606-15." These products were packaged on "12/09/06."
Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 1106" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The sausage products were distributed to retail and institutional establishments in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah.
For the full story: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_002_2007_Release/index.asp
Labels: recall
Monday, January 08, 2007
New Stem Cell Source
Scientists have discovered a new source of stems cells and have used them to create muscle, bone, fat, blood vessel, nerve and liver cells in the laboratory. The first report showing the isolation of broad potential stem cells from the amniotic fluid that surrounds developing embryos was published yesterday in Nature Biotechnology.
While this should calm any problems the right wingers have, I doubt it. I am sure that with enough thought that the "right to lifers" can find some reason to oppose this
While this should calm any problems the right wingers have, I doubt it. I am sure that with enough thought that the "right to lifers" can find some reason to oppose this
