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FDA: Moldy Applesauce Repackaged by School Lunch Supplier

November 5, 2011 at 10:39 pm (Food and drink, Global Events, Health and wellness, News and politics)
Tags: applesauce, Baby food, FDA, health, lunch, moldy, programs, repackaged, school

Vitals – FDA: Moldy applesauce repackaged by school lunch supplier

http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/04/8636308-fda-moldy-applesauce-repackaged-by-school-lunch-supplier

November 5, 2011

USDA

Applesauce produced by Snokist Growers of Yakima, Wash., was recalled from the nation’s schools earlier this year. Now, FDA officials say the company cannot ensure the safety of moldy applesauce reprocessed and packed in units such as this 106-ounce can.

By JoNel Aleccia

A Washington state fruit processor that supplies the nation’s schools and a baby food maker is under scrutiny by federal health regulators for repackaging applesauce contaminated with several kinds of potentially dangerous, multi-colored molds, msnbc.com has learned.

Food and Drug Administration officials this week posted a warning letter to Snokist Growers of Yakima, Wash., saying the company cannot ensure the safety of moldy applesauce and fruit puree that has been reconditioned for human consumption.

“Your firm reprocesses moldy applesauce product … using a method that is not effective against all toxic metabolites,” read the FDA letter sent Oct. 20 to Jimmie L. Davis, Snokist’s president. “Several foodborne molds may be hazardous to human health.”

Products recalled earlier this year by Snokist were blamed for illnesses of nine North Carolina children who became sick after eating applesauce at school. (Read Full Article)

Farmer’s Markets Spur Job Growth, New Report Finds | Rodale News

August 25, 2011 at 12:56 am (Food and drink, Health and wellness, News and politics)
Tags: farmers, food, jeopardized, markets, organic, product, programs, SNAP, supplemental, USDA

farmer’s market jobs | Farmer’s Markets Spur Job Growth, New Report Finds | Rodale News.

Farmer’s Markets Spur Job Growth, New Report Finds As the economy limps along, farmer’s markets are showing record growth, and that growth could bring thousands of jobs with it.

By Leah Zerbe

Learn how to find truly organic food at farmer’s markets.

The little economic engine that could: Farmer’s markets spur local development and job growth.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—In a dismal week for the U.S. economy featuring debt-ceiling drama in Washington and the threat of a double-dip recession on Wall Street, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) delivered some powerhouse statistics demonstrating the public’s demand for healthy, organic food: The number of farmer’s markets in the country increased 17 percent in the last year. “There’s a yearning for the 99 percent of Americans who are no longer connected to the farm to reconnect,” Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of the USDA, said in a press call Friday afternoon.

The timing is perfect—this week marks National Farmer’s Market Week—and comes on the heels of a new report finding that farmer’s markets could generate thousands of jobs in the U.S.

THE DETAILS: The 2011 USDA Farmer’s Market Directory lists 7,175 farmer’s market, and Merrigan says the number is probably even higher because some markets don’t self-report. The states with the most markets include California, New York, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. And, though not on the top 10 list, Alaskan farmer’s markets increased 46 percent over last year, and Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico were each up 38 percent. As an indication that shoppers are indeed searching for more local, organic food, Merrigan said more than 2 million people have searched the USDA Farmer’s Market Directory so far in 2011.

“Farmer’s markets are just growing exponentially,” said Merrigan, who highlighted farmer’s market innovations, particularly those that bring healthy produce to low-income areas. One such advancement is the increase in farmer’s markets’ allowing electronic benefit transfers (EBT), so people receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps, can purchase fresh, healthy food at farmer’s markets. Many of these markets are moving into food deserts, areas without grocery stores that sell fresh produce and where the few stores that do sell fresh vegetables are bodegas and corner stores with a high mark-up.

Note: Many of the USDA programs that help boost farmer’s markets numbers and bring healthy food to people could be on the chopping block in the 2012 Farm Bill. (Read more)