By Judi McLeod
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Thanks to multi-million dollar advertising campaigns, the consumer believes that organic food is healthier for you. The organic and natural food craze teaches John Q. Public that organic foods are somehow safer and more nutritious.
Tell a lie often enough and it becomes the truth.
The latest victims of organic products now include two Toronto residents, paralyzed in hospital after drinking carrot juice that tested positive for a botulism toxin.
"There are two adults who are severely ill in hospital and they had a history of drinking the exact same juice that's been part of the carrot juice recall," Dr. Elizabeth Rea, an associate medical officer of health, told the Toronto Star on Sunday.
Four cases of botulism in the United States have been linked to toxic carrot juice. The juice, produced by Bolthouse Farms in Bakersfield, Calif., was ordered off North american shelves late last month.
California grows about $400 million per year in organic produce--and about half of it comes from just five farms.
a Florida woman has been in hospital, unresponsive, since mid-September. Three people in the State of Georgia suffered respiratory failure and are on ventilators since drinking carrot juice a month ago.
Bolthouse Farms, which bottles three brands of "organic" carrot juice, includes three recalled products: Bolthouse Farms 100% Carrot Juice, Earthbound Farm Organic Carrot Juice and President's Choice Organic 100% Pure Carrot Juice.
Ironically, it is the health conscious consumer who looks to organic products as being safer and more nutritious.
Bolthouse Farms, which has been around since 1915, describes its carrot juice as "smooth, creamy with a uniquely fresh taste!"
"Bolthouse Farms is the premium producer of the Earthbound Farm carrots, the most recognized organic produce brand. Our organic carrots have all the quality and reliability consumers expect from Bolthouse Farms--and they're 100% organic certified by CCOF, an accredited USDa National Organic Program third party certifier. From snacking to juicing, Bolthouse Farms offers a variety of organic carrots to fit our lifestyle," says Bolthouse Farms on its website.
"after four generations of innovation in agriculture, harvesting, and now bottling, we know that everything really important (freshness, great taste and good health) still begins in the fields."
and it's the fields that are the problem.
as the National Review's John Miller reported in 2004,
"Organic foods may be fresh, but they're also fresh from the manure fields."
Earthbound Farms, one of the biggest organic farms in North america, is also the source of the contaminated spinach that is suspected in three deaths and hospitalized at least 29 other people with kidney failure. In total, the poison spinach sickened nearly 200, in 23 states and Canada.
and now lettuce has been added to the potential E. coli contamination list.
Earthbound fertilizes its leafy vegetables with cow manure.
"Most conventional farmers fertilize their food crops with "chemical" fertilizer, and put their livestock manure on feed crops like corn," Hudson's Center for Global Food Issues Dennis T. avery and alex a. avery wrote in canadafreepress.com on Oct. 3. "Organic farmers reject chemical fertilizer. Instead, they compost raw cattle manure for some weeks, hoping that will kill any dangerous organisms that could contaminate the food. Sometimes it doesn't.
"In the old days, when organic produce came from a few little farms, an occasional sick customer was no big deal. Often, the victim refused to believe organic food could cause the illness. But so many people now believe the organic hype that organic farms have gotten big and corporate and the manure-related consumer epidemics make national news."
"a study by the Center for Global Food Issues found that although organic foods make up about 1 percent of america's diet, they also account for about 8 percent of confirmed E. coli cases." (The Center for Consumer Freedom, Jan., 2004).
Meanwhile, the avery's believe "our objective should be to get the manure away from our food crops. Organic and natural aren't safer, or more nutritious: Just more expensive, and far more dangerous."
Laboratory Findings
There are now a total of 13 confirmed product samples that contain the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak strain.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed the presence of the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in a sample of Dole spinach with a lot code of P227a02, and a "best if used by" date of august 30, 2006.
• The Ohio Department of Health confirmed the isolation of E. coli O157:H7, matching the outbreak strain, from a package of Dole Baby Spinach.
• The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services has confirmed that E. coli O157:H7, the same strain as that associated with the outbreak, has been found in 2 bags of Dole Baby Spinach with lot codes of P227a.
• The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services has reported a confirmed finding of E. coli O157:H7 in bagged spinach, with a lot code of P227a03, matching the outbreak strain. The Nevada sample was analyzed by FDa Pacific Regional Lab NW.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed that E. coli O157:H7, the same strain as that associated with the outbreak, has been found in 2 individual bags of Dole spinach purchased in Pennsylvania with a "best if used by" date of august 30, 2006, and a lot code of P227a01.
• The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) and the Salt Lake Valley Health Department (SLVHD) have confirmed that E. coli O157:H7, the same strain as that associated with the outbreak, has been found in a bag of Dole Baby Spinach purchased in Utah, with a lot code of P227a01. Laboratory tests were conducted by the Utah Public Health Laboratory (UPHL).
• The New Mexico Department of Health announced on September 20, 2006, that it had linked a sample from a package of Dole Baby Spinach with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. DNa fingerprinting tests determined that the strain from the spinach matches the strain from patients in the outbreak. The package of spinach that tested positive was Dole Baby Spinach, with a lot code of P227a03.
• The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed that E. coli O157:H7, matching the outbreak strain, has been found in a package of Dole Fresh Spinach with a lot code of P227a02, and a "best if used by" date of august 30.
• The arizona Department of Health Services reported a confirmed finding of E. coli O157:H7 in Dole bagged spinach, with a lot code of P227a03, and a "best if used by" date of august 30, 2006, matching the outbreak strain.
• The Nebraska Health and Human Services System reported a confirmed finding of E. coli O157:H7 in Dole bagged baby spinach, with a lot code of P227a01, and a "best if used by" date of august 30, 2006, matching the outbreak strain.
• The Utah Department of Health reported a confirmed finding of E. coli O157:H7 in Dole bagged baby spinach, with a lot code of P227a01, matching the outbreak strain.
Product Recalls (6)
To date, 6 firms have initiated recalls:
• Based on recall audits conducted by FDa, the agency recently determined that on September 15, 2006, Kenter Canyon Farms, Inc., of Sun Valley, California initiated a voluntary recall of re-packaged spinach. The recalled spinach was part of the nationwide recall of Natural Selection Foods. The product was packaged in 5 oz. clam shell plastic containers. The products recalled were: Kenter Canyon Farms Baby Spinach, Kenter Canyon Farms Mesclun, and Kenter Canyon Farms Spicy Mix. The recalled products were distributed only in Southern California. The "expiration date" located on the back of the package is September 20, 2006.
• On September 22, 2006, Pacific Coast Fruit Company of Portland, Oregon initiated a voluntary recall of products that may include spinach supplied by Natural Selections Foods. Pacific Coast Fruit Company stopped making all products with spinach supplied from California on September 14, 2006. The recalled products are:
Baby Spring Mix Salad Kit (4.6 lbs), Chef on the Run- Bacon Spinach Salad (9 oz. plus 2 fl. oz. dressing), Chef on the Run - Spring Greens Salad (5 oz. plus 2 fl. oz. dressing), Chef on the Run - Willamette Valley Salad (10 oz. plus 2 fl. oz. dressing), Trader Joe's - Baby Spinach and Greens with Bleu Cheese, Candied Pecans and Cranberries with Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing (10 oz.), Trader Joe's - Baby Greens and Spinach Salad with Wild Maine Blueberry Dressing (10 oz.), Mediterranean Veggie Blend Kit - 15 lbs, and My Brothers Pizza Spinach and Garlic - 15 oz. and 36 oz.
Most of the salad products can be identified by the labels Trader Joe's, My Brothers Pizza or Chef on the Run and are in clam shell containers. Pizza products are in round cardboard bottoms with a plastic over wrap. all salad products will have a "use by date" on or before Sept 20, 2006. Pizza products will have a "use by date" on or before September 23, 2006. The products were distributed through various retail outlets in alaska, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. There is no international distribution.
• On September 22, 2006,Triple B Corporation, doing business as S.T. Produce, of Seattle, Washington, initiated a voluntary recall of its fresh spinach salad products with a "use by date" of august 22, 2006 thru September 9, 2006. Spinach used in these products may have been supplied from Natural Selections Foods of California. The recalled products were distributed in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana to retail stores and delis and sold in a hard plastic clamshell container.
The products recalled by S.T. Produce are: NWG Spinach Salad (5 oz.),Spinach Salad, QFC (5 oz.), Charlie's Spinach Salad (5 oz.), Charlie's Tabouli & Goat Cheese Salad (10 oz.), NWG Tabouli & Goat Cheese Salad (10 oz.),Tabouli & Goat Cheese Salad, QFC (10 oz.), T/H Spring Mix Salad (5.5 oz.), T/H Mozzarella Spring Mix Salad (5.5 oz.), T/H Baby Spinach Salad (5.5 oz.), Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad w/ Grilled Chicken Breast (6.5 oz.), Larry's Market Tabouli & Goat Cheese Salad (10 oz.), Charlie's Seasonal Greens Salad (2.5 oz.), Charlie's Seasonal Greens Salad (4 oz.), Charlie's Baby Spinach Salad (6 oz.), Charlie's Baby Spinach Salad (5 oz.) and Caesar Bowtie Noodle Salad Kit with Grilled Chicken Breast (6.9 lbs).
• On September 19, 2006, RLB Food Distributors, L.P., West Caldwell, NJ, initiated a voluntary recall of certain salad products that may contain spinach with an 'Enjoy Thru' date of 9/20/06.
The products recalled by RLB are: Balducci's Mesclun Mix 5 oz., Balducci's Organic Baby Spinach 5 oz., Balducci's Mixed Greens 5 oz., FreshPro Mesclun Mix 5 oz., FreshPro Organic Baby Spinach 5 oz., FreshPro Mixed Greens 5 oz., FreshPro Salad Mix with Italian Dressing 4.75 oz., and FreshPro Salad Mix with Ranch Dressing 5.25 oz.
• On September 17, 2006, River Ranch, of Salinas, California, announced a voluntary recall of packages of spring mix containing spinach. River Ranch obtained bulk spring mix containing spinach from Natural Selections. The following brands are involved: Fresh N' Easy Spring Mix and Hy-Vee Spring mix containing baby spinach, distributed to retailers in Texas, Iowa, New Mexico, Georgia and Ohio. Product was packed in 5 oz. bags and 5 oz. plastic trays. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall.
• On September 15, 2006, Natural Selection Foods, LLC, of San Juan Bautista, California, announced a voluntary recall of all products containing spinach in all brands they pack with "best if used by dates" of august 17, 2006 through October 1, 2006. These products include spinach and any salad with spinach in a blend, both retail and food service products. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall.
Natural Selection Foods, LLC brands include: Natural Selection Foods, Pride of San Juan, Earthbound Farm, Bellissima, Dole, Rave Spinach, Emeril, Sysco, O Organic, Fresh Point, River Ranch, Superior, Nature's Basket, Pro-Mark, Compliments, Trader Joe's, Ready Pac, Jansal Valley, Cheney Brothers, D'arrigo Brothers Co. of New York, Green Harvest, Mann, Mills Family Farm, Premium Fresh, Snoboy, The Farmer's Market, Tanimura & antle, President's Choice, Cross Valley, and Riverside Farms. The affected products were also distributed to Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Iceland. FDa continues to investigate whether other companies and brands are involved.
Dan Bolton, Editor & VP Operations
Natual Food Network
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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