FDA sets strict DEHP limit for bottled water

How safe is that water bottle you just purchased?  Are you sure the clear, refreshing liquid inside is as pure and chemical free as you expect?  Bottled water is actually regulated quite extensively, but despite that monitoring, new risks continue to be addressed to help reduce any potential threat to long-term consumer health.

Bottled water is federally regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Manufacturers of bottled water must follow the FDA’s stringent food safety and labeling  requirements, as well as specific Good Manufacturing Practices to help ensure that the water inside those creatively designed plastic bottles maintains a specific quality level. 

There are also state responsibilities for bottled water.  State health departments efforts are focused on supporting the federal regulations and making sure that they are strictly adhered to. Some of the state responsibilities include:

• Making sure that all water comes from approved sources
• Inspecting and analyzing those approved sources
• Certifying  third-party testing labs to ensure consistent & reliable results
• Random and annual inspections of bottling plants and finished products

Water sources for bottled water sold in the USA can also be outside the U.S. borders, so the bottled water industry also voluntarily follows the International Bottled Water Association Model Code, which requires annual plant and water source inspections.

On the other hand, pubic drinking water (municipal water) is regulated as a product by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Safe Drinking Water Act. Public water goes through a water treatment system of coagulation, sedimentation, disinfection and filtration that helps eliminate contaminants and assure the best quality results.

The blitz of popularity that bottled water has enjoyed, also brought with it new environmental and health issues.  One such issue is the release of a chemical known as  DEHP or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. This chemical is on the California Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. Studies have shown that the main exposure to this chemical is through diet (ingestion). The clear, flexible plastic used to mold the bottles can sometimes contain DEHP, and the potential for this chemical to leach out of the plastic and into the water inside is very real. 

For this reason, effective April 16, 2012, bottled drinking water will have to meet new, stricter FDA water quality standards.  The existing FDA 21 CFR 165.110 was recently amended, establishing a specific allowable DEHP limit of 0.005 mg/litre. Manufacturers of bottled water will now be required to annually monitor both their source water and finished product for appropriate levels of DEHP. By setting a specific DEHP limit, and requiring adherence to Best Practices in Manufacturing, bottled water safety will be equivalent to the EPA’s requirements for public drinking water.

Now - if we can only find a way to reduce the significant assault on the environment that bottled water presents.  The World Wide Fund for Nature suggests that over 1.5 million tons of plastic is used in 89 billion liters of water every year. While the DEHP may be limited in each individual bottle, the accumulative result is large amounts of this chemical leaching out into landfills at amazing rates.

On step forward, but still losing the race.

Aflatoxin contaminates Cargill dog food

Aflatoxin is in the news again as Cargill Animal Nutrition announced a recall of two brands of dry dog food due to high levels of the potentially toxic mold by-product.  Earlier this month Procter & Gamble recalled Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food in which the Aflatoxin levels were also discovered to be above the FDA’s acceptable limit [see earlier Safety Spot blog post.]

Cargill, an international food and industrial product distributor, targeted the River Run and Marksman brands in this recall.

 Check the company website for photos at this link.

Batches produced from December 2010, and up to Dec. 1, 2011 are involved and only those products with the following Packaging Date Codes or Lot numbers are affected:

• 4K0335 through 4K0365
• LL0335 through LL0365
• 4K1001 through 4K1335
• LL1001 through LL1335

The affected dry dog food has already been removed from the shelves in the fifteen states into which it has been sold, but consumers are warned to check their products to see if they have any of the affected food.  If so, return the dog food to the store of purchase (opened or partially used) for a complete refund.

Cargill can be contacted for more information at (855) 460-1532 or at their website.

Possible Contamination of Wire Flecks Prompts Pepperidge Farm Recall

It’s bad enough that so many of us have those nightmare memories of schooldays spent with wire-threaded metal bands slowly and painfully correcting our awkward adolescent smile. Now the folks at Pepperidge Farm, Inc. may have found a way to create an even more painful scenario.  

Photo:  FDA

Some consumers have complained about slight scrapes inside and around their mouth from eating Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals Sesame Sticks. Pepperidge Farm issued the voluntary recall of a specific quantity of 10.2-ounce boxes of the Sesame Sticks product. This action was taken as a preventative measure, just in case any of the products happen to experience the presence of small, thin pieces of wire!

The 13,000 cases of products included in this recall were made at the company’s Willard manufacturing facility in Ohio.  Each individual package is marked with a bright yellow banner with the words “20% More!” printed toward the top of the front panel of the box.  Look for the codes below on the top package flap:

     W07*1781 Sell by 11/20/2011          W07*1891 Sell by 11/27/2011
     W07*1921 Sell by 12/4/2011            W07*2041 Sell by 12/11/2011
     W07*2061 Sell by 12/13/2011          W07*2221 Sell by 1/1/2012

These are the ONLY codes involved in this recall. Product was sold in the USA only.

According to the FDA recall information, “consumers who have purchased this product should not eat it. They should check their pantry shelves for boxes with "Sell By" dates of 11/20/2011 through 1/1/2012 marked on the top package flaps and return them to the store of purchase for an exchange or full refund.”

Pepperidge Farm customer service can also be contacted directly at (866) 535-3774. 

Winn-Dixie Choco Charm Chocolate Drink Recalled

Photo: FDA

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.,  is voluntarily recalling “Winn-Dixie Choco Charm Chocolate Drink” from its in-store dairy departments in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The the drinks may be mislabeled and may contain the undeclared wheat allergan. People who are sensitive to wheat protein can respond with a moderate to acute allergic reaction.


See details in today's FDA recall here.

Popsicle® brand treats recalled due to undisclosed milk

Nothing is more synonymous with summertime fun than a tasty, frozen fruit treat.  For years, those with milk allergies have enjoyed Popsicle® treats because they are refreshing AND contain no milk, products.  But this week some milk snuck into this well-known milk–free zone and caused a health alert.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Unilever United States, Inc. are working together to alert consumers about some specific mislabeled 24-count boxes Popsicle® brand Sugar Free Orange, Cherry and Grape flavored ice pops that inadvertently contain Popsicle® brand Sugar Free Healthy Bunch® Fudgsicle® and Creamsicle® ice pops.

Consumers who are allergic or have a severe sensitivity to milk could experience a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they eat the ice pops that contain milk.

To determine if a box of the ice pops is affected, look for the bright yellow paper box, containing 24–1.65 FL OZ (48.7 ML) POPS with a unit UPC code of 7756702295. The UPC code is printed just below the bar code.

Photo:  FDA

Next, look at the date code stamped on the outside of the with date codes. ONLY the date codes below are affected by this alert. 

• OCT0312GCD
• OCT0412GCD
• OCT0512GCD
• OCT0612GCD
• OCT0712GCD. 

The affected ice pops (with milk) are individually wrapped and have the “Fudgsicle®” and “Creamsicle®” symbol printed on the wrapper. 

  

The product was produced and packaged in the United States and distributed to several states including: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

  

Consumers who have purchased the Popsicle® brand ice pops shown above should discard the treats inside, but retain the outer box.  A replacement coupon can be obtained calling 800-896-9552.

An alert will also be listed on the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) web site www.foodallergy.org and notifying FAAN’s members. 



For more details, see the FDA Recall Notice, or visit www.popsicle.com.

If your child has a milk allergy, try this adorable storybook about a young cow who is allergic to milk. Along with delightful artwork, this book's simple and clear explanation about milk allergies will help youngster's understand why they can't always eat what their friend's do.  Having a friend with the same allergy, like Cody the cow, can help empower children to make healthy choices for themselves.  

FDA Warns of E.coli Outbreak at Oregon Strawberry Farm

Strawberries and summertime go together like sunshine and shade trees. But this month the folks at an Oregon strawberry farm are feeling the heat!

Photo: ANR News

Fresh Strawberries grown on the Jaquith Strawberry Farm in Newberg, Oregon have been identified as being contaminated with the E. coli bacteria.  The outbreak has been connected to at least ten people in the Washington, Clatsop, and Multnomah Counties who have fallen ill.  One of those people died of kidney failure linked with the E.coli bacteria.

The farm’s strawberry season is over (late July) so the fruit is no longer on the market.  But the crops sold prior to August 1 are a concern.  Jaquith Farm sold their strawberries to individual buyers who, in turn, sold them at roadside stands and farmer’s markets.  Washington State Health Department authorities are urging anyone who purchased the strawberries prior to August 1, 2011 to discard them immediately.

NOTE:  Cooking kills E. coli O157:H7 bacteria, so any of the Jaquith Farm Strawberries that have been fresh frozen for use at a later time, or made into uncooked jam are also a concern.

Check the FDA Recall Notice for more details.

New Federal Regulations for Cosmetics Proposed

 The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 (H.R.2359) was introduced on June 24, 2011 and is designed to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to ensure that all the ingredients in cosmetics (also known as “personal care products”) are fully disclosed and free of harmful chemicals. The proposed law still has to undergo manufacturer, public and government scrutiny before it becomes final, and is likely to change as it goes through the system.

Photo: It's About Health 

The current law, enacted over seventy-three years ago (the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938), surrendered all decisions about ingredient safety to the cosmetics industry themselves. Under the existing law, the FDA does not have the authority to require cosmetics companies to conduct safety assessments, or product recalls.  This is true even when the FDA receives information that the cosmetic contains a chemical that is harmful to human health.  The new proposed law would give FDA the authority to recall or stop the sale of any cosmetic it determines to be unsafe based on scientific evidence. 


This new legislation will have an impact any consumers who use moisturizing lotions, sunscreens, make-up, shampoos and deodorants, to name a few.  The general public is becoming increasingly concerned with eliminating unsafe chemicals from the products we use everyday.  The new law, as proposed, will put some pressure on cosmetic manufacturers to be vigilant about researching, testing and listing the formulations used in their personal care products.  The desired result is intended to be safer products for the consumers, but is this new bill the correct vehicle for attaining that result?

Photo: Skin Rejuvenation Today

The cosmetic industry has often been accused of not keeping up with scientific research on chemical toxicity. The lack of a strong regulatory structure could be one cause that has allowed some manufacturers to bury their heads in the sand and play dumb about the toxicity and long-term effects of the chemicals in their products. Cosmetic manufacturers would argue that they care very much and develop their formulations based on scientific research and data. One only needs to read the ping-pong game going on between organizations like Personal Care Truth and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to recognize the complexity of the issues.  Each of these organizations is in favor of safer cosmetics, but they both have different road maps to get there. 

Photo: Skin Beauty Review

On one side are the smaller natural cosmetic manufacturers who feel the new proposed law would make labeling confusing to the consumer, would require duplicative registration steps, increases costs for testing and basically would discourage innovation. It is important to note that the proposed law only applies to US manufacturers. This has the potential to cause some consternation between U.S. and overseas suppliers.

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 also proposes extensive pre-market testing and would require Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to be provided in multiple languages.  Many smaller manufacturers feel that the mandates would put an undue strain on their bottom line, and could prevent entry into the marketplace. In contrast, the larger companies are likely to have deeper pockets and would be more easily able to incorporate these additional expenses.

You can read the full text of the proposed Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 here.

Summer Salad Season Brings FDA Warning

Photo: Cook-Oui Chef

It's summertime, and that means salads and fresh vegetables will be flying off the supermarket shelves. Keeping an eye on contaminants in this fresh food is just as important as keeping an eye on calories.  On June 22, 2011, a possible contamination from Listeria monocytogenes has prompted DOLE® Fresh Vegetables to announce a voluntary recall of two fresh food products.


The first victim is 2,880 cases of DOLE® Italian Blend salad.
The affected packages are marked with a Use-by Date of June 19, 2011.  The UPC code to look for is 7143000819. It is printed on the back of the bag, beneath the barcode. The recall is for Product Codes 0049A157201A, 0049A157201B, 0049A157202A, 0049A157202B, 0686A157202A, 0686A157202B. The product code is printed on the upper right-hand corner of the packaging.

Victim number two is 442 cases of Kroger Fresh Selections Italian Style Blend salad. The Use-by-Date for the Kroger product is June 19, 2011. The UPC code to look for is 1111091045.  It is printed on the back of the bag, beneath the barcode. The Product Codes  for the recall on this item are A157201A & A157201B, also printed on the upper right-hand corner of the packaging.

Photos: FDA

According to the FDA recall notice, "... these products were distributed in twelve U.S. states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin) and three Canadian provinces (New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec).


Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium, can cause illness mainly in pregnant women or adults with compromised immune systems.  Symptoms might include fever, muscle aches, stomach cramps, nausea or diarrhea. In some more serious cases, it has been known to spread to the nervous system resulting in headache, stiff neck or confusion. 


Take a look in your fridge and check these dates and codes to be sure any DOLE® or Kroger Italian Blend Salad packages are not affected.  Retailers should have already removed this product from their shelves, but its best to check before you purchase.  If you find that you do have a product that matches the codes and dates listed above, return the product to your Retailer for a replacement or refund. You can contact Dole Food Company Consumer Response Center at (800) 356-3111. They operate Monday -Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (PDT). 

Kashi® Frozen Pizzas Recalled for Possible Contamination

     Their workplace offers employees noon-time activities like yoga or ping-pong, free breakfast to feed their brains, and weekend team building activities like mud-runs. For the past twenty-five years, Kashi® has represented and marketed their passion for wholesome whole grain cereals, bars and crackers.  Since 1985 their all-natural 7-Whole Grain Puffs, and its many successors, have been helping us all add a bit of healthy to our increasingly processed food supply.  In 2007 they began offering a line of frozen entrées that offered a healthier alternative to the high-sodium, chemically processed instant meals that were being zapped in workplace microwaves.

Photos:  FDA 

But earlier this week, Kashi® teamed up with the FDA to get the word out that they are recalling about 11,000 of their popular frozen pizzas after finding plastic fragments in one of the ingredients used to make the pizza crust.  Only the three pizzas listed below were in question, and no customers have actually complained.  

Kashi® is a popular brand in many retail grocery and food stores across the United States, so the recall was announced as soon as the concern was discovered.   Checking the Best if Used Before dates on the packaging will indicate if the pizza in your freezer is involved in this recall.

Product	Weight	UPC Code	Best If Used Before Dates
Kashi Mediterranean Thin Crust Pizza	12.7 oz	1862732905 3	May10 12NU, May18 12NU, or May19 12NU
Kashi Roasted Vegetable Thin Crust Pizza	12.2 oz	1862737342 1	May09 12NU or May14 12NU
Kashi Mushroom Trio and Spinach Thin Crust Pizza	11.9 oz	1862737344 5	May17 12NU

Customers who desire a free replacement may contact the Kashi® Consumer Care by phone at (877) 864-3521, or via their website at www.Kashi.com